Long-term survival of a patient with stage IV pulmonary large cell carcinoma achieved by combined-modality therapy: report of a case.
We describe herein the case of a 59-year-old-man with stage IV pulmonary large cell carcinoma and a giant brain metastasis, in whom two sublines with different growth characteristics and drug sensitivities in vitro were established from the primary tumor. Disease-free survival for more than 5 years after surgery was achieved by combined-modality therapy together with surgery to remove the primary tumor, radiation to the brain metastasis, and chemotherapy to presumed hematogenous dissemination. Subline 1 proliferated in a monolayer of epithelial-like cells, while subline 2 showed a floating colony pattern of proliferation, resembling the typical growth characteristics of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells in vitro. Subline 2 was sensitive to a number of drugs, namely, vincristine (VCR), cyclophosphamide (CPM), adriamycin (ADR), and cisplatin (CDDP), whereas subline 1 was resistant to many drugs. The patient was treated with a combination of 44 Gy of whole-brain irradiation and a number of cycles of chemotherapy comprised of ADR, VCR, and CPM, followed by CDDP, VCR, and CPM, based on the results of sensitivity testing of the subline 2 cells. As a result, the patient has been disease-free for more than 5 years postoperatively. In conclusion, this case report serves to demonstrate that meticulous combined-modality treatment taking tumor heterogeneity in human cancers into account may be necessary to achieve breakthroughs in current cancer therapy for advanced lung cancer.
Kobayashi
S
S
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Okada
S
S
Hasumi
T
T
Sato
N
N
Fujimura
S
S
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013997:Time Factors