Afatinib combined with cetuximab for lung adenocarcinoma with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

Lung Cancer. 2014 Sep;85(3):479-80. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jun 16.

Abstract

We report a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) after 4 years of multiple treatments. High-dose tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) was given for LMC at first but was not effective. She then received dual therapy combining of afatinib and cetuximab. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a partial response of disease and the patient experienced a clinical benefit. Our case suggests that dual targeting of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by a combination of afatinib and cetuximab can be a potential novel treatment option in treating LMC when high-dose TKI failed.

Keywords: Afatinib; Cetuximab; EGFR; Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis; Non-small cell lung cancer; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Adult
  • Afatinib
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cetuximab
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / diagnosis
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / etiology*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / etiology*
  • Quinazolines / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Quinazolines
  • Afatinib
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Cetuximab