Exceptional Response to Immunotherapy-based Treatment in Compound EGFR-Mutated Oligometastatic Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Abstract

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. EGFR mutations generally respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)-based targeted therapy but are typically associated with resistance to immunotherapy. We report a case of oligometastatic PSC harboring compound EGFR mutations (p.G719C and S768I). The patient exhibited disease progression despite sequential treatment with EGFR TKIs, including osimertinib, afatinib, and mobocertinib, in combination with chemotherapy. The treatment strategy was then shifted to immunotherapy with pembrolizumab alongside carboplatin and paclitaxel, leading to a remarkable response. Given the oligometastatic nature of the disease and the sustained response, bilateral adrenalectomy was performed, revealing a complete pathological response. The patient remains disease-free posttreatment, with no evidence of recurrence on follow-up imaging. This case challenges the conventional paradigm that EGFR-mutated NSCLC does not benefit from immunotherapy, highlighting the potential for an alternative treatment approach in rare subtypes such as PSC. Our findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive molecular profiling and a personalized treatment strategy to optimize outcomes in aggressive and refractory lung cancers.