Brief Report: Targeted Therapies and Pancreatitis in Patients With Advanced Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

• Targeted treatments are commonly used to treat lung cancer but can induce elevations in pancreatic enzyme levels in up to 24% of patients. While these drugs are recognized as potential triggers for pancreatitis, the clinical significance of monitoring pancreatic enzymes and the incidence of clinical acute pancreatitis remains uncertain. In our study of 1207 targeted treatments in 725 patients with advanced lung cancer, we observed that, although elevations in pancreatic enzymes were frequent (37%), instances of clinical acute pancreatitis were scarce (0.08%). Based on our findings and in line with the current recommendations of drug-induced pancreatitis, we suggest that routine monitoring for pancreatitis is not necessary in asymptomatic patients.