Pneumonitis in Patients with Lung Cancer Following Treatment: the Effects of Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Abstract

Multiple articles have been written on the development of pneumonitis as it relates to each class of treatment options in NSCLC. To date, there are no articles that review pulmonary side effects seen in all agents including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and TKIs that are used in NSCLC. Our goal was to identify these agents, review the pathophysiology, and establish treatment options when pneumonitis develops. In doing so, we have established a resource for physicians treating this disease. Within the past decade, significant strides have been made in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Targeted agents, namely tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapy have established themselves and shifted the treatment paradigm in this disease, they also brought along very specific and different toxicities, such as pneumonitis. Cytotoxic chemotherapy continues to play a major role as single agent, combined therapy, or in combination with immunotherapy. Within each of these classes of treatment options, pulmonary side effects are possible. Multiple articles have been written on the development of pneumonitis as it relates to each class of treatment options in NSCLC. To date, there are no articles that review pulmonary side effects seen in all agents including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and TKIs that are used in NSCLC. Our goal was to identify the agents, review the pathophysiology, and establish treatment options when pneumonitis develops. In doing so, we have established a resource for physicians treating this disease.