Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Lung Injury Induced by Nab-Paclitaxel

Background/Aim: Nab-paclitaxel (Nab-PTX) has been widely used to treat several advanced cancers. Nab-PTX can cause drug induced lung injury (DILI); however, its clinical and radiographic features have not been clarified. We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of Nab-PTX-induced lung injury and identify its associated risk factors. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively investigated 304 patients who received Nab-PTX at Chiba University Hospital between November 2010 and November 2017. We obtained information regarding the clinical course, laboratory findings, and chest computed tomography findings from their medical records. Results: Forty-one patients (13%) developed DILI. Grade 1 lung injury occurred in 27 patients (8.8%), grade 2, 8 patients (2.6%); grade 3, 3 patients (0.9%); grade 4, 1 (0.3%); and grade 5, 2 (0.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed that age >56 years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.0), pre-existing interstitial lung changes (OR: 3.2), and combined drugs with gemcitabine (OR: 2.7) were independent risk factors for DILI owing to Nab-PTX administration. Conclusion: Nab-PTX-induced lung injury is not rare; however, most cases are asymptomatic (grade 1). Older age, pre-existing interstitial lung changes, and combined drugs with gemcitabine could increase the incidence of Nab-PTX-induced lung injury; such patients should be treated with greater care.

Automated summary

This study retrospectively investigated 304 patients who received Nab-PTX treatment and found that 41 patients developed drug induced lung injury (DILI), with most cases being asymptomatic. Older age, pre-existing interstitial lung changes, and combined drugs with gemcitabine were identified as independent risk factors for Nab-PTX-induced lung injury.