Risk of mTOR inhibitors induced severe pneumonitis in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Future Oncol. 2016 Jun;12(12):1529-39. doi: 10.2217/fon-2016-0020. Epub 2016 Apr 12.

Abstract

Background: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to determine the overall risk of noninfectious severe pneumonitis associated with mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) in cancer patients.

Materials & methods: PubMed, EMBASE and oncology conference proceedings were searched for relevant studies.

Results: A total of 8377 patients from 16 randomized controlled trials were included. The incidence of severe pneumonitis associated with mTORi was 1.7% (95% CI: 1.1-2.5%). The use of mTORi significantly increased the risk of severe pneumonitis compared with controls (odds ratio: 3.36; 95% CI: 2.20-5.12). The analysis was stratified for drug types, tumor types, controlled therapy and mTORi-based regimens, but no significant differences in odds ratios were observed.

Conclusion: mTORi significantly increase the risk of severe pneumonitis in cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer; mTOR inhibitors; meta-analysis; pneumonitis.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases