Pembrolizumab as a novel therapeutic option for patients with refractory thymic epithelial tumor: A case report

BACKGROUNDThymic epithelial carcinomas are rare and have a poor prognosis. Treatment of thymic epithelial carcinoma is multimodal and includes surgery, post-operative radiation therapy, adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or exclusive chemotherapy based on disease resectability. However, there is currently no standard treatment regimen for metastatic and recurrent thymic carcinoma. CASE SUMMARYA 45-year-old Caucasian male, with no past medical history, presented with hepatalgia and a cervical mass. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple suspect lesions in the lungs, liver, and anterior mediastinum associated with mediastinal and cervical adenopathy. CT-guided percutaneous biopsies of the liver lesions and anterior mediastinal mass were performed, confirming the histopathology of thymic epithelial carcinoma. Management consisted of several chemotherapy regimens and radiation therapy, administered between April 2016 and December 2018. The patient achieved complete metabolic response. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT performed in June 2019 showed disease relapse, with reappearance of a large hypermetabolic hepatic mass and involvement of mediastinal and axillary lymph nodes. Intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg, every 3 wk) was administered after two prior systemic therapies. The patient’s response to treatment was last documented on March 5, 2020.CONCLUSIONPembrolizumab was successful in treatment of a patient with programmed death-ligand 1-negative metastatic thymic carcinoma, pretreated with chemotherapy.     

Phase I trial using weekly administration of gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND: In advanced pancreatic carcinoma, no effective chemotherapy has been found yet due to the lack of appropriate response. The frequent use of gemcitabine is based on the fact that there is a significant improvement in the quality of life, but neither an effect on remission nor a detectable increase in survival rates could be observed. Therefore, the hypothesis was that the combination of gemcitabine with other drugs can result in a better outcome of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the maximally tolerable dosage of gemcitabine and docetaxel using a weekly administration regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma received combination chemotherapy using gemcitabine and docetaxel in a weekly administration regimen, beginning with 800 mg/m2 of gemcitabine and 25 mg/m2 of docetaxel. Four patients were originally enrolled for each of the seven different dosages of both drugs. Side effects were assessed according to the WHO standard. Quality of life was evaluated according to the Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. RESULTS: Using the two maximal dosages of gemcitabine and docetaxel (gemcitabine, 800 and 1,000 mg/m2, and docetaxel, 45 and 40 mg/m2; respectively), only 3 and 2 patients were enrolled, respectively, because of toxic side effects > or = grade III according to WHO grading. Maximal dosages with tolerable side effects were 1,000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine and 35 mg/m2 of docetaxel given in weekly intervals. Main side effects of this combination chemotherapy were gastrointestinal symptoms and hematologic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel in advanced or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma is a well-tolerated and acceptable alternative treatment option with regard to the severity of side effects and its positive impact on quality of life and tumor-associated pain. According to the study endpoint, dosages of 1,000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine and 35 mg/m2 of docetaxel are recommended as maximum-tolerated doses (given in weekly intervals) for a future phase II trial.     

Primary small cell esophageal carcinoma,chemotherapy sequential immunotherapy: A case report

BACKGROUNDPrimary small cell esophageal carcinoma (PSCEC) is aggressive and rare, with a worse prognosis than other subtypes esophageal carcinoma. No definitive and optimum standard guidelines are established for treating it. Herein, we report a case of PSCEC, including a current literature review of PSCEC.CASE SUMMARYA 79-year-old male was diagnosed PSCEC with multiple lymph node metastasis thorough computed tomography, positron emission tomography-computed tomography, endoscopy and pathology. Surgery was not suitable for this patient. He was treated with etoposide 100 mg/m² and cisplatin 25 mg/m² on days 1-3, every 3 wk for 4 cycles. The tumor and lymph nodes became smaller and dysphagia and vomiting symptoms improved. The patient could not tolerate subsequent chemotherapy (CT) because of hematological toxicity; therefore, we performed immunotherapy (durvalumab, 1500 mg) every 4 wk. At present the patient has received 12 cycles immunotherapy over about 1 year. He is still receiving treatment and follow-up.CONCLUSIONPSCEC with multiple lymph nodes metastasis does not always indicate surgery. CT may extend survival time and improve the quality of life in the absence of surgery. Immunotherapy or immunotherapy plus CT may also work as a treatment for PSCEC.     

Complete pathological response in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patient: A case report

BACKGROUNDChemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by durvalumab is currently the standard treatment for locally advanced node-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We describe the case of a patient with locally advanced node-positive NSCLC (LA-NSCLC) treated in a phase II prospective protocol with chemotherapy, accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy (AHRT) and surgery in the pre-immunotherapy era.CASE SUMMARYA 69-year-old male, ex-smoker (20 PY), with a Karnofsky performance status of 90, was diagnosed with locally advanced squamous cell lung carcinoma. He was staged by total body computed tomography (CT) scanning, and integrated ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT scan [cT4 cN3 cM0, stage IIIC according to TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) 8^th edition] and received AHRT between chemotherapy cycles, in accordance with the study protocol (EudractCT registration 2008-006525-14). At the end of the study the patient underwent surgery, which was not part of the protocol, and showed a complete pathological response.CONCLUSIONThis case report confirms that AHRT can be used successfully to treat primary LA-NSCLC with bilateral mediastinal lymph node involvement. Our case is of particular interest because of the pathological response after AHRT and the lack of surgical complications. We hypothesize that this radiotherapeutic approach, with its proven efficacy, could be delivered as a short course reducing treatment costs, increasing patient compliance and reducing toxicity. We are currently investigating the possibility of combining hypofractionation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy for patients with LA-NSCLC.     

Head and neck cancer: carcinoma of unknown primary

Carcinoma of unknown primary is uncommon, estimated to represent only 3% to 5% of all head and neck cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 70% to 90% of these lesions, most commonly from sites in the upper aerodigestive tract, including tonsils, base of tongue, nasopharynx, and piriform sinus. Magnetic resonance, computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography all play a role in the assessment of patients with an unknown primary. The location of a metastatic lymph node may give an indication of the primary tumor site, and knowledge of lymph node drainage patterns is important for anyone evaluating these patients. Magnetic resonance and CT are both used for evaluation for extracapsular nodal disease, perineural tumor spread, osseous skull base or perivertebral space involvement, and vascular invasion, findings that seriously impact treatment and prognosis. Positron emission tomography/CT also plays a significant role in detecting primary tumor sites and identifying distant metastatic disease.     

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the nasopharynx: a case report and literature review

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) of the nasopharynx is a rare malignant tumor that has been described in only a few case reports, and its differential diagnoses include diverse clinicopathologic entities. FDCS is often initially misdiagnosed, especially when examining small biopsy specimens. We herein report a case of FDCS arising in the nasopharynx that was initially misdiagnosed as a nerve sheath tumor. A 44-year-old woman presented with persistent obstruction of the left nasal cavity and underwent an excisional biopsy. The specimen demonstrated morphologic and immunohistochemical features of FDCS. In situ hybridization for Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA was negative. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The sarcoma recurred near the original site more than 3 years after the initial treatment and was completely resected. At the time of this writing, the patient had remained disease-free for 1 year after resection. This case is being reported to improve the clinical recognition of FDCS.     

食管早癌内镜下黏膜剥离术后追加手术及放疗的握判

目的初步探讨食管早癌内镜下黏膜剥离术(ESD)后追加手术及放疗的评判依据。方法回顾性分析2009年7月-2015年10月,该院消化科112例行ESD治疗的食管早癌患者临床资料、术后病理结果及术后随访结果。结果随访期内共有7例患者进一步治疗,其中追加食管癌根治手术3例;贲门癌根治术1例,术后淋巴结阳性再次追加化疗;追加ESD术1例;放疗2例。7例患者肿瘤浸润至上皮内层(m1)和黏膜下层上1/3(sm1)各3例,浸润至黏膜肌层(m3)者1例。1例患者病理提示脉管内转移,随访13个月胃镜检查局部无复发,但CT提示腹腔淋巴结转移,随访16个月后死亡。另有1例浸润深度达m1的高级别上皮内瘤变(HGIN)患者,垂直及水平切缘均为阴性,随访7个月局部无复发,但CT提示肝及腹膜后淋巴结转移。结论术前准确判断癌灶浸润深度及有无淋巴结转移是决定患者治疗方式的重要依据;术后评估病灶是否达到了治愈性切除,随访有无局部复发及淋巴结、远处转移则决定是否需要追加手术及放疗。     

Unresectable esophageal cancer treated with multiple chemotherapies in combination with chemoradiotherapy: A case report

BACKGROUNDDefinitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) using cisplatin plus 5fluorouracil (CF) with radiation is considered the standard treatment for unresectable locally advanced T4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, induction chemotherapy has received attention as an effective treatment strategy.CASE SUMMARYWe report a successful case of a 59-year-old female with unresectable locally advanced T4 ESCC treated by two additional courses of chemotherapy with CF after induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (DCF) followed by dCRT. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) detected a type 2 advanced lesion located on the middle part of the esophagus, with stenosis. Computed tomography detected the primary tumor with suspected invasion of the left bronchus and 90° of direct contact with the aorta, and upper mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Pathological findings from biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. We initially performed induction chemotherapy using three courses of DCF, but the lesion was still evaluated unresectable after DCF chemotherapy. Therefore, we subsequently performed dCRT treatment (CF and radiation). After dCRT, prominent reduction of the primary tumor was recognized but a residual tumor with ulceration was detected by EGD. Since the patient had some surgical risk, we performed two additional courses of CF and achieved a clinically complete response. After 14 mo from last administration of CF chemotherapy, recurrence has not been detected by computed tomography and EGD, and biopsy from the scar formation has revealed no cancer cells.CONCLUSIONWe report successful case with tumor remnants even after DCF and subsequent dCRT, for whom a complete response was finally achieved with two additional courses of CF chemotherapy. Additional CF chemotherapy could be one radical treatment option for residual ESCC after treatment with induction DCF followed by dCRT to avoid salvage surgery, especially for high-risk patients.     

Lung cancer: diagnosis and management

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with an average five-year survival rate of 15 percent. Smoking remains the predominant risk factor for lung cancer. Lung cancers are categorized as small cell carcinoma or non-small cell carcinoma (e.g., adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma). These categories are used for treatment decisions and determining prognosis. Signs and symptoms may vary depending on tumor type and extent of metastases. The diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected lung cancer includes tissue diagnosis; a complete staging work-up, including evaluation of metastases; and a functional patient evaluation. Histologic diagnosis may be obtained with sputum cytology, thoracentesis, accessible lymph node biopsy, bronchoscopy, transthoracic needle aspiration, video-assisted thoracoscopy, or thoracotomy. Initial evaluation for metastatic disease relies on patient history and physical examination, laboratory tests, chest computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and tissue confirmation of mediastinal involvement. Further evaluation for metastases depends on the clinical presentation. Treatment and prognosis are closely tied to the type and stage of the tumor identified. For stages I through IIIA non-small cell carcinoma, surgical resection is preferred. Advanced non-small cell carcinoma is treated with a multimodality approach that may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and palliative care. Chemotherapy (combined with radiotherapy for limited disease) is the mainstay of treatment for small cell carcinoma. No major organization recommends screening for early detection of lung cancer, although screening has interested researchers and physicians. Smoking cessation remains the critical component of preventive primary care.     

18F-FDG PET-CT在食管癌放射治疗靶区勾画中的应用进展

放射治疗是食管癌的重要治疗方法,而精准的靶区勾画是决定放射治疗疗效的前提和基础,靶区勾画是以CT为基础的多种影像学信息资料,本文将对正电子发射断层显像(PET-CT)分子功能影像在食管癌及其转移淋巴结的靶区勾画中的应用进行综述,以充分发挥PET-CT在食管癌原发病灶及淋巴结转移靶区勾画方面的重要作用。     

Gastric cancer with calcifications: A case report

BACKGROUNDMucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC) is a rare histological type of gastric carcinoma. Calcifications, seen on imaging and histopathological preparations, and which are infrequent in other types of gastric carcinoma, are characteristic of MGC. We present a patient with MGC with calcifications of the gastric wall and describe the computerized tomography (CT) features of the lesion and changes in the calcifications before and after chemotherapy.CASE SUMMARYA 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in May 2020 because of a large, tender abdominal mass. Abdominal CT showed diffuse, irregular thickening of the gastric walls, with miliary and punctate calcifications. There were metastases to the perigastric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes and also peritoneal seeding. Histological examination of a specimen obtained by endoscopic biopsy showed poorly differentiated calcified signet-ring cell gastric cancer. The patient was clinically staged with T4N+M1 disease. He was treated with docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil as first-line therapy, irinotecan combined with S-1 as second-line chemotherapy, and programmed cell death protein 1 as third-line therapy. The patient underwent a total of nine cycles of chemotherapy. Follow-up CT scans every 3 mo showed continually increasing calcifications. As of this writing, the patient has survived almost 1 year.CONCLUSIONIn this case report, we describe the histopathological and imaging characteristics of a patient with gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy. Multiple punctate calcifications were seen, which gradually increased during chemotherapy. Several possible mechanisms for the calcifications are described, but further research is needed. Future findings may lead to new approaches for the evaluation and treatment of such tumors.     

Major response and clinical benefit following third-line treatment for Bellini duct carcinoma

Summary Bellini duct carcinoma accounts for 1–3% of all renal carcinomas and is characterized by an aggressive course and extremely poor prognosis. Conventional treatment for renal-cell carcinoma seems to be ineffective. Since the histology of Bellini duct carcinoma is similar to urothelial carcinoma, chemotherapy for urothelial cancer might be more promising than conventional treatment. We present a patient with renal carcinoma of the left kidney who underwent laparoscopic extrafascial nephrectomy and adrenalectomy. Histopathologic work-up showed Bellini duct carcinoma (pT3a, NX, G3, R0 and M0). Eight months after surgery, disease progression was observed with local recurrence, multiple pulmonal lesions, para-aortic and aortocaval lymphadenopathies and a solitary bone lesion. First-line treatment with interferon-alpha and interleukin-2, as well as second-line treatment with thalidomide, were ineffective. Disease progressed rapidly and the patient experienced a dramatic reduction in performance status and quality of life. Six courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine were given, a treatment reported to be highly active in urothelial cancer. The treatment was well tolerated, with thrombopenia WHO grade II, anemia WHO grade I and nausea/vomitus WHO grade II being the most severe side effects. Follow-up computer tomography revealed partial remission with 50–100% response at the different sites of metastasis. This response was accompanied by a dramatic improvement in performance status (from an initial 60% to 100% Karnofsky index) and quality of life. The combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine was highly active in this patient with metastatic Bellini duct carcinoma, even given as third-line treatment. This regimen fulfils all criteria for palliative treatment, as our patient showed an impressive improvement in WHO performance status and therefore in quality of life. Histopathologic characteristics should be a major criterion for treatment strategy in renal carcinoma, particularly in Bellini duct carcinoma.     

四例树突细胞肉瘤(附文献复习)

目的 探讨树突细胞肉瘤(DCS)的临床表现、病理特点、治疗和预后.方法 描述一组DCS[包括2例滤泡树突细胞肉瘤(FDCS)、1例交错突树突细胞肉瘤(IDCS)和1例朗格汉斯细胞肉瘤(LCS)]患者的临床和病理表现、治疗及随诊情况,并复习相关文献.结果 2例FDCS患者分别为19岁男性和45岁女性,均以发热、淋巴结肿大起病,淋巴结病理诊断为FDCS,免疫组化为CD21(+)、CD35(+).2例患者经6个疗程CHOP(环磷酰胺、表阿霉素、长春地辛和泼尼松)方案化疗后均达到完全缓解(CR).男性患者在5个月后复发,女性患者随诊5个月仍为CR.1例IDCS患者为42岁男性,以副肿瘤综合征天疱疮起病,纵隔淋巴结病理诊断为IDCS,免疫组化为S-100(+),2个疗程CHOP方案化疗后死于肺部感染.1例LCS患者为54岁女性,以发热、淋巴结肿大起病,淋巴结病理诊断为LCS,免疫组化为CD1a(+)、S-100(+)和CD68(+),电镜观察发现肿瘤细胞中存在Birbeck颗粒,经4个疗程化疗后,疾病进展.结论 DCS是一组极为罕见的恶性肿瘤.FDCS、IDCS和LCS都具有独特的病理表现和免疫表型.大多数DCS为侵袭性病程,预后较差.     

Acute mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymphadenitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: case report

In a young woman with clinical evidence of acute cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and neurologic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, computed tomography (CT) showed enlarged, centrally hypoattenuating mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. After treatment with steroids, the CT appearance of the lymph nodes returned to normal. The differential diagnosis of lymph nodes with central hypoattenuation includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, metastatic disease (especially squamous cell carcinoma and germ cell tumor), Whipple's disease, and celiac disease in addition to lupus lymphadenitis.     

Synchronous colonic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma found after surgery for adenocarcinoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUNDMucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is mainly involved in the gastrointestinal tract. The synchronous occurrence of colonic MALT lymphoma and adenocarcinoma in the same patient is extremely rare. We here report a case of synchronous colonic MALT lymphoma found on surveillance colonoscopy five months after surgery and chemotherapy for sigmoid adenocarcinoma.CASE SUMMARYA 67-year-old man was admitted because of hematochezia for two months. Colonoscopy suggested a colonic tumor before hospitalization. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed local thickening of the sigmoid colon. The patient underwent a left hemicolectomy with local lymph node dissection. The histopathology revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and partially mucinous adenocarcinoma. The pTNM stage was T3N1Mx. The patient received chemotherapy with six cycles of mFOLFOX6 after surgery. Colonoscopy was performed five months later and revealed single, flat, polypoid lesions of the colon 33 cm away from the anus. Subsequently, the patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection for further diagnosis. The pathological diagnosis was MALT lymphoma. Positron emission tomography /CT suggested metastasis. The patient refused further treatment and died ten months later.CONCLUSIONColonic MALT lymphoma may occur after surgery and chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma as a synchronous malignancy. Regular surveillance colonoscopy and careful monitoring after surgery are critical.     

Combined chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy for pancreatic carcinoma—A case report

Therapeutic modalities for incompletely resected pancreatic carcinoma are rare. Effective treatment must not only prolong the period of palliation but also limit the adverse sequelae of the Whipple procedure so as not to compromise the quality of the remaining life span. New treatments include the use of gemcitabine and type I interferons. We treated a patient with incomplete resection of a pancreatic tumor with two cycles of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) and cisplatinum (50 mg/m²) followed by radiotherapy (45 Gy/5 weeks) combined with interferon-beta (three times a week/5 × 10⁶ IU). Two small liver metastases occurred subsequently. In all, four cycles of gemcitabine/cisplatinum were delivered. The patient lived at least 9 months with stable metastatic liver disease and local control. He had no acute toxic reactions except for a decrease in the leukocyte count, no long-term side effects, and a satisfactory quality of life. A regimen of sequential gemcitabine/cisplatinum and radiotherapy in combination with interferon-beta deserves further consideration as therapy for pancreatic carcinoma.     

Carbon ion radiotherapy for bladder cancer: A case report

BACKGROUNDRadical cystectomy is considered the first choice for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, for some patients who have lost the indications for surgery, external beam radiotherapy is a non-invasive and effective treatment.CASE SUMMARYA 76-year-old patient with bladder cancer who had serious comorbidities and could not tolerate surgery or chemotherapy came to the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center. He received carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) with a whole-bladder dose of 44 GyE and tumor boost of 20 GyE. When he finished CIRT, his bladder cancer-related hematuria completely disappeared, and computed tomography examination showed that the tumor had obviously decreased in size. At the 3-mo follow-up, the tumor disappeared, and there were no acute or late adverse events. CIRT was well tolerated in this patient.CONCLUSIONCIRT may allow for avoiding resection and was well tolerated with curative outcomes.     

Long-term remission in a patient with carcinoma of unknown primary site

BACKGROUND: Cancer of unknown primary site also designated as CUP syndrome usually presents as metastatic disease with a poor prognosis and low remission as well as survival rates. CASE: We report a 46-year-old male with para-aortal and left-sided cervical lymph node metastases. Histological examination of a cervical lymph node revealed papillary carcinoma. Despite thorough investigation, no primary tumor was found. The patient was empirically treated with six courses of the FACP regimen (5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin) combined with radiotherapy (40 Gy) and has remained in complete remission for 124 months. CONCLUSION: This case indicates that treatment of a patient with cancer of unknown primary site may be rewarded by a benign course. However, complete cure remains a very rare event in CUP. Remission can be achieved with a platinum-containing regimen combined with radiotherapy.     

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma detected in hepatogastric ligament:A case report and review of the literature

The most common organ where follicular dendritic cell sarcoma(FDCS) occurs is in cervical lymph nodes, while few cases are found in extranodal organs such as liver, spleen, and soft tissue. This is a case report that FDCS occurs in the hepatogastric ligament. To our knowledge, there is no such case that has been reported previously. A 47-year-old male patient was found to have an intraabdominal mass during an annual physical examination. Computed tomography showed a 4.2 cm × 4.1 cm mass located at the lesser curvature of the stomach, above the pancreas. During operation, a tumor mass was found in the hepatogastric ligament and a radical resection was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as FDCS by pathology and immunohistochemical testing. The patient had a favorable recovery, and no obvious abnormality was found 3 months postoperation.     

Collision tumor: invasive ductal carcinoma in association with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in the same breast

Synchronous occurrence of multiple neoplastic processes is uncommon and the relationship between breast cancer with lymphoproliferative diseases is unusual as well. Furthermore, breast involvement by malignant lymphoma is a rare event and primary breast mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is even rarer. We report a patient with synchronous occurrence of malignant lymphoma of MALT type and ductal carcinoma of the breast, presenting as "collision tumor," invading each other and occurring as a single mass in the breast. Involvement of the sentinel lymph node by MALT lymphoma was demonstrated with no evidence of metastatic carcinoma. Staging bone marrow biopsy did not show involvement by malignant lymphoma or carcinoma. Our patient was treated with chemotherapy for the lymphoma. She also received radiotherapy and aromatase inhibitor as adjuvant therapy for the breast carcinoma.