Chemotherapy-induced fatal hepatitis B virus reactivation in a small-cell lung cancer patient

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during chemotherapy is a major concern and is widely reported, particularly in association with hematological malignancies and lymphomas. While lung cancer ranks first in incidence and mortality worldwide, HBV reactivation has been largely overlooked in this disease. As regards small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), HBV reactivation has rarely been reported. We herein report the case of a hepatitis B surface antigen-seropositive SCLC patient in whom HBV was reactivated during the course of chemotherapy, despite preemptive use of lamivudine. The patient developed fulminant viral hepatitis and succumbed to liver failure. The aim of this report was to highlight the major but overlooked issue of HBV reactivation in SCLC, and suggest that agents more potent than lamivudine may be more efficacious in high-risk patients.