Pemetrexed-induced edema of the eyelid

Lung Cancer. 2006 Sep 20; [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Takayasu Kurataa, , Kenji Tamuraa, Isamu Okamotoa, Taroh Satoha, Kazuhiko Nakagawaa and Masahiro Fukuokaa

aDepartment of Medical Oncology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan

Received 28 April 2006;  revised 8 August 2006;  accepted 14 August 2006.  Available online 22 September 2006.

Abstract

Pemetrexed is a novel antimetabolite that targets multiple enzymes
in the folate pathway, and has exhibited clear antitumor activities in
the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung
cancer. Although many adverse events of pemetrexed, such as bone marrow
suppression, have been reported, edema of the eyelid has been
previously reported in only one case (0.2%, n = 519), according to the Pemetrexed Clinical Investigator’s Brochure, April 2005 version. We experienced a patient who developed the valuable edema of the eyelid. We believe that medical oncologists should be aware of this rare adverse event, although the mechanism responsible for it is not yet known.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Eyelid edema; Lung cancer; Supportive care