"Liquid elbows" due to afatinib administration

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has evolved, with targeted therapies becoming central, especially for adenocarcinoma.
• Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in NSCLC patients are effectively managed with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib, gefitinib, and afatinib.
• TKIs are now utilized as second-line treatments for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), expanding their therapeutic application.

Observation:

• A case study involving a patient diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma is presented.
• The patient was undergoing treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor afatinib.
• The patient developed bilateral elbow bursitis, also known as olecranon bursitis.

Findings:

• The study documents an unusual adverse event in a patient receiving afatinib for squamous cell carcinoma.
• Olecranon bursitis was observed in both elbows of the patient.
• This suggests a potential, albeit rare, association between afatinib therapy and the development of bursitis.

Implications:

• This case broadens the understanding of potential side effects associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in NSCLC treatment.
• It underscores the importance of monitoring for diverse adverse events, even those not commonly associated with specific drugs.
• Further investigation may be warranted to explore the mechanism and incidence of TKI-induced bursitis in cancer patients.