Interstitial lung disease associated with FOLFOX chemotherapy

Currently, FOLFOX regimen has been widely used as an effective approach for treating many advanced GI tract cancers. Toxicity induced by oxaliplatin has been well known and mostly moderate and manageable. Gastrointestinal, hematological and neurosensory toxicities are the most common. However, information concerning the pulmonary toxicity of this regimen is very limited and only a few cases of severe lung toxicity associated with FOLFOX chemotherapy have been reported. Here, we report a fatal case of interstitial lung disease which was associated with FOLFOX chemotherapy in metastatic advanced gastric cancer. The patient expired from progressive respiratory failure. This case suggests that FOLFOX-induced interstitial lung disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of new lung lesions in patients who are treated with FOLFOX chemotherapy. And further investigations of possible association that may lead to acute respiratory failure are warranted.