Imatinib may reduce chemotherapy-induced pneumonitis. A report on four cases from the SWENOTECA.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of anticancer drugs have been reported to cause pneumonitis. Chemotherapy-induced pneumonitis may cause severe morbidity and event death. As there has been a lack of effective treatment, new treatment strategies are needed. A previous case report has indicated that imatinib may be useful. PATIENT AND METHODS: The SWENOTECA experience of four cases with severe life-threatening chemotherapy-induced pneumonitis treated with imatinib is presented. RESULTS: All four patients responded to treatment with imatinib. CONCLUSIONS: Imatinib appears to be an effective treatment of severe chemotherapy-induced pneumonitis in germ cell cancer patients.