Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report

Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically have an unfavorable prognosis, with a median survival of only 6 to 15 months in most studies. In cases other than local relapse or oligometastases, systemic therapy plays the dominant role. The choice of re...

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Main Authors: Anh Tuan Pham, Thang Huu Nguyen, Thai Hong Le, Toan Khanh Phan, Anh Phuong Nguyen, Ngoc Minh Le, Thao Thu Vu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Current Problems in Cancer: Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666621924000607
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author Anh Tuan Pham
Thang Huu Nguyen
Thai Hong Le
Toan Khanh Phan
Anh Phuong Nguyen
Ngoc Minh Le
Thao Thu Vu
author_facet Anh Tuan Pham
Thang Huu Nguyen
Thai Hong Le
Toan Khanh Phan
Anh Phuong Nguyen
Ngoc Minh Le
Thao Thu Vu
author_sort Anh Tuan Pham
collection DOAJ
description Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically have an unfavorable prognosis, with a median survival of only 6 to 15 months in most studies. In cases other than local relapse or oligometastases, systemic therapy plays the dominant role. The choice of regimen is influenced by multiple clinical factors, including patient comorbidities, performance status, previous therapy, and pathologic features. We present a case of PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1)-negative metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer successfully treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy, followed by cetuximab combined with chemotherapy. Remarkably, the patient currently remains in good health, with no signs of disease on imaging at 35 months after diagnosis. We emphasized the importance of a well-devised treatment strategy, as well as the significant synergistic effects of the sequence in which the cetuximab-based regimen follows immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Current Problems in Cancer: Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-d0c6a97b02ca43b0941b7f654da5d9872025-08-20T02:51:35ZengElsevierCurrent Problems in Cancer: Case Reports2666-62192025-03-011710033810.1016/j.cpccr.2024.100338Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case reportAnh Tuan Pham0Thang Huu Nguyen1Thai Hong Le2Toan Khanh Phan3Anh Phuong Nguyen4Ngoc Minh Le5Thao Thu Vu6Department of Optimal Clinical Care, Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; Corresponding author at: Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, No 30, Cau Buou Street, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam.Department of Optimal Clinical Care, Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamDepartment of Quan Su Medical Oncology, Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamMedical Oncology Department, Oncology Center, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamDepartment of Optimal Clinical Care, Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamHanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi, VietnamDepartment of International Collaboration & Research, Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamPatients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically have an unfavorable prognosis, with a median survival of only 6 to 15 months in most studies. In cases other than local relapse or oligometastases, systemic therapy plays the dominant role. The choice of regimen is influenced by multiple clinical factors, including patient comorbidities, performance status, previous therapy, and pathologic features. We present a case of PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1)-negative metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer successfully treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy, followed by cetuximab combined with chemotherapy. Remarkably, the patient currently remains in good health, with no signs of disease on imaging at 35 months after diagnosis. We emphasized the importance of a well-devised treatment strategy, as well as the significant synergistic effects of the sequence in which the cetuximab-based regimen follows immune checkpoint inhibitors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666621924000607Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaMetastatic hypopharyngeal cancerCetuximab plus chemotherapyPembrolizumab
spellingShingle Anh Tuan Pham
Thang Huu Nguyen
Thai Hong Le
Toan Khanh Phan
Anh Phuong Nguyen
Ngoc Minh Le
Thao Thu Vu
Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
Current Problems in Cancer: Case Reports
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer
Cetuximab plus chemotherapy
Pembrolizumab
title Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
title_full Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
title_fullStr Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
title_short Excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer: A case report
title_sort excellent response of cetuximab plus chemotherapy after pembrolizumab monotherapy in metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer a case report
topic Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Metastatic hypopharyngeal cancer
Cetuximab plus chemotherapy
Pembrolizumab
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666621924000607
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