Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Induction of Mouse Lung Injury by Endotracheal Injection of Bleomycin
06:52

Induction of Mouse Lung Injury by Endotracheal Injection of Bleomycin

Published on: April 30, 2019

Therapy-induced toxicity of the lungs: an overview

Andriani G Charpidou1, Ioannis Gkiozos, Sotirios Tsimpoukis

  • 1Oncology Unit, Third Department of Medicine, Athens School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Anticancer Research
|April 1, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Novel cancer drugs can cause lung problems, often appearing as shortness of breath or interstitial lung disease. Early detection of this pulmonary toxicity is crucial for patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pulmonology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pulmonary toxicity from novel antineoplastic agents is not well understood due to complex treatment regimens.
  • Simultaneous or sequential drug use and multimodality approaches complicate characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize pulmonary toxicity induced by novel antineoplastic agents.
  • To identify common patterns and potential contributing factors of lung toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search using Medline with keywords: novel antineoplastic agents, pulmonary toxicity, dyspnea, and pneumonitis.
  • Review of references from identified articles for additional relevant studies.

Main Results:

  • Most novel antineoplastic drugs have the potential to induce pulmonary toxicity.
  • Common manifestations include unspecified dyspnea and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
  • Exclusion diagnosis is necessary; genetic predisposition, autoimmune conditions, or superimposed diseases may play a role.

Conclusions:

  • Clinicians must recognize pulmonary toxicity as a potential complication of cancer treatment.
  • Focus on early detection and prediction strategies for pulmonary toxicity is essential.

More Related Videos

Direct Tracheal Instillation of Solutes into Mouse Lung04:50

Direct Tracheal Instillation of Solutes into Mouse Lung

Published on: August 29, 2010

Related Concept Videos

Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Other Pulmonary Disorders01:17

Other Pulmonary Disorders

Respiratory disorders encompass a range of conditions with varying levels of severity. Asthma, marked by chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity, is one such condition. It can lead to airway obstruction due to factors like bronchial spasms, mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, or epithelial damage. Asthma triggers are diverse, ranging from allergens to emotional upset, and treatment focuses on both immediate relief through bronchodilators and long-term inflammation suppression.
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...