Keratitis
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Study results from K.S. Johnson and colleagues in the area of lung cancer published
2009 AUG 10 - (NewsRx.com) -- In this recent study, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To report a case of persistent corneal epithelial erosion in a patient undergoing treatment with erlotinib for her lung cancer. Report of a 79-year-old woman who presented with a persistent corneal epithelial defect associated with infectious keratitis that waxed and waned for 5 months despite treatment." "She had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was being treated with erlotinib, a reversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. The keratitis required a biopsy to establish the diagnosis of Staphylococcus epidermidis keratitis. The infectious keratitis was successfully treated; however, her pain and the epithelial defect persisted. She discontinued the erlotinib treatment. Within 2 weeks, the abrasion healed and had no recurrence. This report is, to our knowledge, the first description of a nonhealing corneal erosion and infectious keratitis possibly associated with erlotinib toxicity. EGFR is expressed in basal epithelial cells across the cornea and limbal basal cells; it is considered imperative for corneal epithelial cell proliferation and wound healing. Erlotinib is mediated through inhibition of EGFR, which is a highly promising area in molecularly targeted chemotherapies," wrote K.S. Johnson and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "It will become increasingly important for ophthalmologists to recognize and treat side effects of chemotherapies interfering with the epithelial growth factor pathway.." Johnson and colleagues published their study in Cornea (Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect Associated With Erlotinib Treatment. Cornea, 2009;28(6):706-707). For additional information, contact D.S. Chu, Medical & Dental University New Jersey, Dept. of Ophthalmology, New Jersey Medical School, Doctors Off Center, 90 Bergen St., Suite 6100, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Cornea is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United States, Newark, Biopsy, Erlotinib, Keratitis, Lung Cancer, Lung Neoplasms, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Protein Kinase Inhibitor, Surgery. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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