Capecitabine-associated enterocolitis: Narrative literature review of a rare adverse event and a case presentation

Abstract

Capecitabine is an oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug with antimetabolite activity commonly used in advanced colorectal and breast cancer. It presents with a generally good toxicity profile and most of the adverse events can be managed effectively. Enterocolitis is a rare, under-reported, but potentially fatal adverse event associated with capecitabine use. To the best of our knowledge, there are 21 cases of capecitabine-related enterocolitis reported in the literature. We herein present a narrative literature review of enteritis/colitis cases associated with capecitabine use, with highlight to the most common clinical presentation, common imaging and microscopic findings and management approach. We furthermore present a case of severe capecitabine-related enteritis.

Keywords:

• Capecitabine
• 5-FU
• toxicity
• adverse event
• enteritis
• colitis
• review
• case report

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the patient and her family for the cooperation during hospitalization and for the consent to use data from her medical record for the purpose of this manuscript. We would also like to thank Georgia Kourti MD for her invaluable help in the diagnosis and consulting in writing of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest related to the study. Consent after information for the reproduction of data from the medical record for the purpose of this manuscript was granted from the patient and her family. IT, VR, NK and GG all equally contributed to the literature search and the writing of the manuscript. IT and VR received consent from the patient to retrieve information from her medical record for the purpose of the manuscript. SL contributed to writing counselling and corrections. GK provided necessary material for figures and their interpretation. EA contributed to the coordination, consulting, and overall correction of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for the study or for the writing of the manuscript.