Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report

BackgroundCancer-related inflammation contributes to the progression of malignancies and considerably affects therapeutic outcomes. IL-6 acts as a main mediator of both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Although IL-6 therapies have been successful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions...

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Main Authors: Yushi Cai, Xuan Jin, Yun Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530387/full
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author Yushi Cai
Xuan Jin
Yun Dai
author_facet Yushi Cai
Xuan Jin
Yun Dai
author_sort Yushi Cai
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCancer-related inflammation contributes to the progression of malignancies and considerably affects therapeutic outcomes. IL-6 acts as a main mediator of both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Although IL-6 therapies have been successful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, there has been little experience in patients with cancer.Case presentationA 66-year-old man was diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction squamous cell carcinoma (stage IV) with liver metastasis. The patient presented with notable cancer-associated systemic inflammatory symptoms, and experienced disease progression after initial two cycles of anti-PD-1 combined with chemotherapy. After tocilizumab treatment, the symptoms improved rapidly. The patient showed favorable response to subsequent anti-PD-1 plus second-line chemotherapy, and survived without disease progression.ConclusionTargeting IL-6 holds promise for the management of cancer-associated inflammation and improvement of therapeutic outcomes.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-cb53115ebf4345ac8dcbbb29c5d33d472025-08-20T01:51:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-04-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15303871530387Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case reportYushi Cai0Xuan Jin1Yun Dai2Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundCancer-related inflammation contributes to the progression of malignancies and considerably affects therapeutic outcomes. IL-6 acts as a main mediator of both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Although IL-6 therapies have been successful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, there has been little experience in patients with cancer.Case presentationA 66-year-old man was diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction squamous cell carcinoma (stage IV) with liver metastasis. The patient presented with notable cancer-associated systemic inflammatory symptoms, and experienced disease progression after initial two cycles of anti-PD-1 combined with chemotherapy. After tocilizumab treatment, the symptoms improved rapidly. The patient showed favorable response to subsequent anti-PD-1 plus second-line chemotherapy, and survived without disease progression.ConclusionTargeting IL-6 holds promise for the management of cancer-associated inflammation and improvement of therapeutic outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530387/fullcancer-associated inflammationimmune checkpoint inhibitorIL-6tocilizumabchemotherapy
spellingShingle Yushi Cai
Xuan Jin
Yun Dai
Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
Frontiers in Oncology
cancer-associated inflammation
immune checkpoint inhibitor
IL-6
tocilizumab
chemotherapy
title Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
title_full Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
title_fullStr Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
title_short Tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer: a case report
title_sort tocilizumab improves the efficacy of anti pd 1 in a patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer a case report
topic cancer-associated inflammation
immune checkpoint inhibitor
IL-6
tocilizumab
chemotherapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530387/full
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