Cancer Res Treat.  2018 Oct;50(4):1458-1461. 10.4143/crt.2017.529.

Pembrolizumab for Refractory Metastatic Myxofibrosarcoma: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. brightree24@gmail.com
  • 2Divisions of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.

Abstract

Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare tumor, refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pembrolizumab is an innovative immunotherapy drug consisting of programmed death receptor ligand 1 antibody proven to be useful for numerous types of cancer cells. A patient had been diagnosed with metastatic myxofibrosarcoma, refractory to radiotherapy and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The patient achieved a partial response during palliative chemotherapy with pembrolizumab for 14 cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report demonstrating the efficacy of pembrolizumab for refractory myxofibrosarcoma.

Keyword

Sarcoma; Immunotherapy; Pembrolizumab

MeSH Terms

Drug Therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy
Radiotherapy
Sarcoma

Figure

  • Fig. 1. (A) Electrocardiogram showing ST segment elevation in leads V2 to V5. (B) Coronary angiography image showing complete occlusion at the mid-left anterior descending artery (arrow).

  • Fig. 2. Histopathologic findings of aspirated specimens: anaplasia and pleomorphism of the nucleus compatible with high-grade metastatic sarcoma (H&E staining, ×40).

  • Fig. 3. (A) Baseline chest computed tomography (CT) image shows multiple metastatic lung mass with tumor invasion to the left atrium from the pulmonary vein. (B) Follow-up CT image shows a partial response after two cycles of pembrolizumab and a slight decrease in the size of the multiple masses in both the lung and left atrium. (C) Follow-up CT image shows a partial response after four cycles of pembrolizumab and a marked decrease in the size of the multiple masses in both the lung and left atrium.


Reference

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