A case of retinal tear associated with use of sorafenib

Kelly M Gaertner1, Stephen H Caldwell2, Osama E Rahma3

  • 1Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Virginia Health System , Charlottesville, VA , USA.

Frontiers in Oncology
|August 9, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Sorafenib, a cancer drug, may cause retinal tears. This is the first reported case of this potential side effect in patients receiving this angiogenesis inhibitor.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis inhibition is a key strategy in treating various cancers.
  • Sorafenib is an oral multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting tumor angiogenesis.
  • Ophthalmologic toxicity is a known risk with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the first suspected case of retinal tear associated with sorafenib use.
  • To highlight potential ocular adverse events of sorafenib.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a patient experiencing a retinal tear.
  • Review of patient's medical history and sorafenib treatment.

Main Results:

  • A patient developed a retinal tear during sorafenib therapy.
  • This represents a potential, previously unreported, ophthalmologic toxicity of sorafenib.

Conclusions:

  • Retinal tear is a possible adverse event associated with sorafenib.
  • Further investigation is warranted to confirm the association between sorafenib and retinal tears.