Combined atezolizumab and chemotherapy for a patient with double primary cancers

Abstract

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are indicated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck cancer, and combined treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy has recently been carried out in patients with NSCLC. However, there is no established standard therapy for synchronous locally advanced or metastatic cancers of lung and nasopharynx. Case Report: We report a case of a metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced epipharyngeal carcinoma successfully treated with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor, paclitaxel, carboplatin, bevacizumab and atezolizumab. The tumor proportion score of programmed death ligand 1 was 5-10% and 70-80% for metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced epipharyngeal carcinoma, respectively. Shrinkage of both carcinomas was confirmed, and the treatment effect was judged to be a partial response. Conclusion: This was the first patient who was treated with this combination treatment. Our clinical experience suggests that this treatment could be one of the options for patients with these advanced cancers and an overall good clinical condition.