Non-Invasive Prevention of Malignant Airway Obstruction in an Elderly Lung Cancer Patient Using Early Chemo Combination With Pembrolizumab Therapy: A Case Study.

Abstract

Airway obstruction caused by lung cancer is a critical condition requiring prompt intervention. General treatments, like bronchoscopic procedures, radiation therapy, or stent placement, often involve significant risks like bleeding, fistula formation, or limited survival benefits. Chemotherapy is rarely the primary option for airway obstruction but can provide systemic benefits. This report presents a first documented case of a 79-year-old male with non-small cell lung cancer and airway obstruction, successfully treated using chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Despite declining invasive interventions, the treatment significantly reduced the tumour size, alleviating respiratory symptoms without complications. This approach improved the patient's quality of life (QOL) and highlighted the potential of ICIs in conjunction with chemotherapy as an effective, non-invasive treatment strategy for airway obstruction. Based on a search of the PubMed database, this case is the first to document the successful use of ICIs combined with chemotherapy for treating lung cancer-induced airway obstruction. This case underscores the need for further research into integrating ICIs and chemotherapy into treatment plans, particularly for elderly patients, to optimise outcomes while preserving QOL.