Drug-induced interstitial lung disease in advanced breast cancer patients receiving everolimus

22 August 2019

In Targeted Oncology, Annelieke Willemsen, Carla van Herpen and colleagues, showed that  pulmonary function test with  diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide and serum biomarkers (including SP-D and YKL-40) can be of aid to differentiate everolimus-related interstitial lung disease from other respiratory problems. . Change in DLCOc differentiated ILD from alternative diagnoses with 0.91 sensitivity and 0.78 specificity. Serum SP-D and YKL-40 could differentiate ILD from alternative diagnoses with 0.83 and 0.83 sensitivity, and 0.85 and 0.62 specificity, respectively. Prospective monitoring of DLCOc in combination with measurement of serum SP-D and YKL-40 appear useful to discriminate ILD from other causes of respiratory symptoms. 

This study shows that everolimus-related ILD occurs frequently. Prospective monitoring of DLCOc in combination with measurement of serum SP-D and YKL-40 appear useful to discriminate ILD from other causes of respiratory symptoms. 

Abstract

Background
Everolimus-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) (also: pneumonitis) poses a difficulty for physicians, as it is hard to discriminate ILD from other causes of respiratory symptoms and to decide on safe treatment continuation.

Objective
We investigated the capability of pulmonary function tests (PFT), plasma biomarkers, everolimus pharmacokinetics, and FDG-PET to discriminate between everolimus-related ILD and other causes of respiratory problems and to predict the severity of ILD.

Patients and methods
Women starting treatment with everolimus plus exemestane for advanced breast cancer were included. At baseline and during the first 3 months, respiratory symptoms, PFT with diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide corrected for hemoglobin (DLCOc) and forced vital capacity, serum plasma biomarkers (including SP-D and YKL-40), everolimus trough concentration, and 18F-FDG-PET were prospectively recorded.

Results
Twenty-seven (out of 29 included) patients were evaluable for analysis. Fifteen patients (56%) developed everolimus-related respiratory signs or symptoms and four patients (15%) needed everolimus discontinuation and received corticosteroids. Change in DLCOc differentiated ILD from alternative diagnoses with 0.91 sensitivity and 0.78 specificity. Decrease in DLCOc (non-significant) was greatest in patients who needed everolimus discontinuation. Serum SP-D and YKL-40 could differentiate ILD from alternative diagnoses with 0.83 and 0.83 sensitivity, and 0.85 and 0.62 specificity, respectively. 18F-FDG-PET abnormalities did not precede clinical symptoms. No relationship between ILD and everolimus trough concentration was found.

Conclusions 
This study shows that everolimus-related ILD occurs frequently. Prospective monitoring of DLCOc in combination with measurement of serum SP-D and YKL-40 appear useful to discriminate ILD from other causes of respiratory symptoms. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01978171.
 

Publication

Prospective Study of Drug-induced Interstitial Lung Disease in Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Everolimus Plus Exemestane.
Willemsen AECAB, Tol J, van Erp NP, Jonker MA, de Boer M, Meek B, de Jong PC, van Moorsel C, Gerritsen WR, Grutters JC, van Herpen CML.

Annelieke Willemsen and Carla van Herpen are members of theme Rare cancers.


 

• Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.

  Medical Oncology