Erlotinib-Induced Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a targeted drug used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib is considered relatively safe and generally well-tolerated, with rarely reported cardiac side effects. Herein, we report a case of cardiomyopathy that developed during erlotinib treatment for NSCLC. Two months after erlotinib initiation, our 70 year-old female patient complained of progressive dyspnea, and a diagnostic endomyocardial biopsy confirmed non-specific cardiomyopathy, indicating erlotinib-induced cardiomyopathy. We believed that continued administration of erlotinib would exacerbate her heart failure, while treatment of the heart failure with intensive monitoring would allow the administration of erlotinib to be continued. This case report highlights the potential cardiotoxic effects of erlotinib and suggests the need for close clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of patients receiving erlotinib.