A stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma case achieving pathological response with only one cycle of preoperative nivolumab combination chemotherapy.

Abstract

Background: Preoperative nivolumab combination chemotherapy has shown its efficacy in resectable stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer and become one of the standard treatments. While preoperative nivolumab combination chemotherapy is generally a regimen of three cycles, the efficacy of nivolumab combination chemotherapy when treatment is prematurely discontinued remains unclear.

Case presentation: An 81-year-old man was diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma (cT3N1M0, cStage IIIA). A computed tomography (CT) showed a 58 mm mass in left upper lobe with an intrapulmonary metastasis, and a positron-emission tomography/CT suggested metastatic lymph nodes at the left pulmonary hilum. Preoperative nivolumab + carboplatin + paclitaxel were administered; however, after the first cycle, the treatment was discontinued due to grade 3 anorexia, grade 1 body weight loss, and grade 4 neutropenia. It was affair that continuation of preoperative therapy made him unsuitable for surgery, and CT scan showed a reduction in the tumor size to 20 mm. Then, we decided to discontinue the preoperative therapy and perform surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection were performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. The pathological examination revealed 15% of residual tumor cell in primary lesion and no metastatic lymph nodes was diagnosed. The patient did not undergo adjuvant chemotherapy, and no recurrence was observed 1.5 years after surgery CONCLUSIONS: In this case, preoperative nivolumab combined chemotherapy was discontinued only one cycle due to adverse events; however, a significant treatment effect was achieved. Therefore, even it is unable to continue preoperative nivolumab combined therapy, it is important not to miss the chance of surgery, as good treatment effect may have been achieved.