Preexisting Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Injury Associated with Irinotecan in Patients with Neoplasms

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to reveal risk factors for lung injury following irinotecan administration for the treatment of neoplasms. Patients and Methods: This study included 204 patients who received irinotecan from October 2005 to November 2014 and had evaluable chest CT images before initiation of irinotecan. Results: Six (2.9%) patients developed lung injury and, of these, 2 had preexisting interstitial lung disease (pre-ILD). The frequency of lung injury in patients with pre-ILD was 11% (2 of 19) while that in patients without pre-ILD was 2.2%. Risk factor analysis for the lung injury showed pre-ILD was the most predictable factor [odds ratio (OR) 5.00, p=0.07] Combination with other agents, origin of neoplasms (lung or not), initial dose or minimum interval were not observed to be related to risk. Conclusion: The risk of lung injury with irinotecan was high when pre-ILD was present and the risk was comparable with previously reported other agents.