Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Establishing Dual Resistance to EGFR-TKI and MET-TKI in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro with a 2-step Dose-escalation Procedure
09:38

Establishing Dual Resistance to EGFR-TKI and MET-TKI in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro with a 2-step Dose-escalation Procedure

Published on: August 11, 2017

Malignant pleural effusion from lung adenocarcinoma treated by gefitinib

Akihito Kubo1, Yasuhiro Koh, Tomoya Kawaguchi

  • 1National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Japan. kuboa@aichi-med-u.ac.jp

Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|April 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Gefitinib effectively treated lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion. Cancer cell apoptosis was observed within hours of treatment, indicating potential for pharmacodynamic assessment in pleural effusions.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are vital in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment.
  • The pharmacodynamics of EGFR inhibitors in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) are not well understood.
  • Malignant pleural effusion presents a therapeutic challenge in advanced lung cancer.

Observation:

  • A case of lung adenocarcinoma with massive MPE successfully treated with gefitinib and chest drainage.
  • Sequential pleural effusion samples were analyzed before and during gefitinib therapy.
  • Morphological changes and apoptosis in cancer cells were assessed.

Findings:

  • Cancer cell apoptosis was detected as early as 4 hours after initiating gefitinib therapy.
  • No significant apoptosis was observed prior to gefitinib treatment.
  • Gefitinib demonstrated rapid pharmacodynamic effects on cancer cells within the pleural space.

Implications:

  • Pharmacodynamic assessment of molecular targeting agents in MPE is feasible.
  • Early apoptosis detection can guide treatment strategies for NSCLC with MPE.
  • This approach may optimize gefitinib therapy and improve patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

Establishment and Characterization of Three Afatinib-resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma PC-9 Cell Lines Developed with Increasing Doses of Afatinib09:38

Establishment and Characterization of Three Afatinib-resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma PC-9 Cell Lines Developed with Increasing Doses of Afatinib

Published on: June 26, 2019

A Combined 3D Tissue Engineered In Vitro/In Silico Lung Tumor Model for Predicting Drug Effectiveness in Specific Mutational Backgrounds13:34

A Combined 3D Tissue Engineered In Vitro/In Silico Lung Tumor Model for Predicting Drug Effectiveness in Specific Mutational Backgrounds

Published on: April 6, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management01:28

Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management

Pleural Effusion Overview
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
Pleural Effusion I: Introduction01:25

Pleural Effusion I: Introduction

Pleural effusion is an abnormal fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, a narrow space between the lungs and the chest wall. It is not a disease per se but rather a symptom or indication of an underlying disease. In normal circumstances, this space contains a small amount of fluid (5 to 15 mL), a lubricant facilitating the non-frictional movement of the pleural surfaces.
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's criteria,...