Incidence of interstitial pneumonitis in breast cancer patients treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin

Background In clinical practice, chemotherapy-induced interstitial pneumonitis (CIIP) is rare, but it has a high mortality. It has been reported that pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) may induce interstitial pneumonitis in some cases. However, the relationship between PLD and CIIP in breast cancer is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the incidence of PLD-induced interstitial pneumonitis in breast cancer patients. Methods All cases of breast cancer with chemotherapy are collected in our hospital from January 2016 to October 2018, and 354 eligible patients were included in analysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to different chemotherapy regimens received: epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide with or without docetaxel (EC/EC-T group) and PLD plus cyclophosphamide with or without docetaxel (DC/DC-T group). Patients’ general information and clinical characteristics, as well as the incidence of interstitial pneumonitis were compared between the two groups. Results The symptomatic interstitial pneumonitis occurred in 12 patients who received DC/DC-T treatment with an incidence of 12.25% (12/98), while no interstitial pneumonitis occurred in EC/EC-T group ( p < 0.001). Of the 12 patients, 4 patients developed interstitial pneumonitis after 3 cycles of chemotherapy,7 patients after 4 cycles and 1 patient after 5 cycles. The mean interval between the beginning of chemotherapy and the onset of CIIP was 3.75 cycles. Conclusion Clinicians should pay attention to CIIP in breast cancer patients who receive more than three cycles of chemotherapy regimens containing pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide with or without docetaxel.