Alveolar hemorrhage due to erlotinib in non-small-cell lung cancer resistant to gefitinib

Abstract

This is the first report of alveolar hemorrhage due to erlotinib. This patient had received four courses of carboplatin and paclitaxel as first line chemotherapy. Six months later,the level of serum CEA was increased. As cancer cells detected in right bloody pleural effusion indicated an adenocarcinoma showing in frame deletion in exon 19 (E746-A750 del) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, gefitinib was administered. The level of serum CEA was decreased for three months. However, the level of serum CEA increased again. Therefore, she was hospitalized to begin erlotinib treatment as third line chemotherapy. She did not respond to erlotinib, but severe alveolar hemorrhage did occur and was suspected to have been a resul of erlotinib administration We should consider that there may be a risk of alveolar hemorrhage due to erlotinib administration in non-small-cell lung cancer resistant to gefitinib.