Successful afatinib treatment through nasogastric tube in a ventilated patient with non-small cell lung cancer

The majority of lung cancer patients are discovered at advanced stages and some of them may often have complex medical problems in addition to the diagnosis of cancer, such as oncologic emergency requiring assistance in an intensive care unit (ICU). In the last decade, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been recognized as key drugs for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring sensitive EGFR mutation. We report a case of stage IV NSCLC with EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion). He was in a life-threatening stage due to a massive intrathoracic hemorrhage. After chest tube drainage and mechanical ventilation, afatinib was administered through nasogastric tube. Consequently, a dramatic response was obtained and he was able to be discharged from our hospital 11 weeks after the initiation of afatinib. This approach may be of benefit to rescue from life-threatening condition for selected patients.