PULMONARY TOXICITIES OF TARGETED CANCER THERAPIES: A CROSS-SPECIALTY REVIEW

Abstract

Targeted cancer therapies have transformed treatment paradigms across multiple malignancies, yet pulmonary toxicities represent a critical barrier to their safe application. This cross-specialty review employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative synthesis of clinical datasets and qualitative insights from oncology and pulmonology experts, to evaluate the incidence, presentation, and management of pulmonary adverse events. Analysis of nine comprehensive datasets revealed that interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis, pleural effusions, and pulmonary arterial hypertension occurred in up to 40% of patients, with variable severity across therapy classes including EGFR-TKIs, mTOR inhibitors, BCR-ABL TKIs, and monoclonal antibodies. Severity stratification demonstrated that higher grades of toxicity were frequently associated with combination regimens and longer treatment duration. Thirteen figures—including line, bar, scatter, hybrid, and heatmap visualizations—highlighted demographic trends, therapy-specific risk distributions, and correlations between age, cancer subtype, and pulmonary complications. Notably, chronic toxicities persisted in subsets of patients, emphasizing the need for prolonged monitoring. Qualitative analysis reinforced these findings, identifying recurrent clinical challenges such as diagnostic ambiguity, delayed referral to pulmonology, and gaps in standardized management protocols. Integration of these findings underscores the necessity of cross-specialty collaboration, early imaging and biomarker evaluation, and tailored surveillance strategies. Collectively, this study advances current understanding of pulmonary toxicities in targeted therapy, offering a multidimensional evidence base to support personalized management approaches and improved patient outcomes