Radiation Recall Pneumonitis Induced by Gemcitabine

Abstract

Gemcitabine-induced recall pneumonitis is a rarely reported phenomenon and should be taken into account even after extended time interval to the previous radiotherapy.

Whole Lung Irradiation in Patients with Exclusively Pulmonary Metastases of Ewing Tumors

“…The presented results are in concordance with other reports presenting late follow-up data of small patient collectives after WLI [2,8,24]. Severe pneumonitis as radiation recall has also been reported after whole lung irradiation followed by epirubicin [16] as well as after thoracic radiotherapy following gemcitabine chemotherapy [22]. The real impact of thoracic surgery (or chemotherapy) could not be clarified in this analysis, but patients with thoracic surgery showed a trend to be over-represented in the group of patients with pathologic PFT.…”

Late Effects of Thoracic Irradiation in Children

“…When radiation is followed by chemotherapy, subclinical damage due to irradiation can be unmasked, producing an inflammatory reaction termed radiation recall [34,38].…”

Exacerbation of radiation fibrosis with erlotinib: another pattern of radiation recall phenomenon

“…[4][5][6]8 The eliciting drug of recall phenomenon is variable. In addition to actinomycin D, other cytotoxic drugs such as gemcitabine, VP-16, taxanes, anthracyclines, and tamoxifen have been reported.…”

“…3 Acute change in the previously irradiated lung after administration of an antineoplastic agent is known as radiation recall pneumonitis. [4][5][6] Erlotinib, which is an endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a new drug used for locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has failed at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. Because serious pulmonary complications have been reported with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a multiinstitutional postmarketing survey is being conducted throughout our country.…”