Chemotherapy (platinum and pemetrexed) in combination with erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer induces major gastrointestinal toxicity: two case reports from the FLARE/GFPC 03-2013 study
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE:
A randomized phase III study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of second-line platinum-based chemotherapy with or without erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR-activating mutation after secondary resistance to EGFR-TKIs (epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors).
CASE SUMMARY:
We report herein two of the first three patients who presented with major gastrointestinal toxicities in the experimental arm of the trial.
WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION:
Pending further data, it would seem safer to administer EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy sequentially rather than concomitantly.
Sassier M, Peyro-Saint-Paul L, Clarisse B, Leconte A, Coquerel A, Alexandre J, Fedrizzi S, Leroy-Terquem E, Madroszyk A, Gervais R
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2016 Aug