Ocular adverse events of systemic inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor: report of 5 cases.

Abstract

To describe the ocular effects associated with the administration of the systemic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors panitumumab and erlotinib. Retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series. Ten eyes of 5 patients in treatment with systemic EGFR inhibitors, 4 patients with erlotinib for end-stage lung carcinoma, and 1 patient with panitumumab for end-stage colorectal cancer. Data collected from charts included gender, age at presentation, systemic disease, and clinical presentation in each eye. Demographics on presentation and clinical findings. Multiple epithelial defects were observed in all 10 eyes, corneal melting and thinning were observed in 3 eyes of 2 patients, 2 eyes of 1 patient presented with lower lid ectropion, and 2 eyes of 2 patients presented with corneal perforation, both requiring a penetrating keratoplasty. Severe ocular side effects, including corneal perforation, may be associated with the use of the EGFR inhibitors panitumumab and erlotinib.