Multiple primary malignant neoplasms: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Until recently, few cases of three or more malignant tumors in one patient have been reported. Owing to the high incidence rate of these tumors, the improvement in cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the extension of patient survival time, the incidence of reported multiple primary malignant neoplasms has gradually increased. The present study reported the case of a 57-year-old man with non-small cell lung cancer combined with B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase V600E mutation, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and lumbar vertebral malignant mucinous sarcoma. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of these three malignancies are discussed and previous studies are also reviewed. The aim of the study was to analyze the genetic mutations associated with multiple primary malignant tumors and to discuss whether those mutations with unknown functional significance could be used as therapeutic indicators. This case report will serve as a reference for future treatment of such patients. and ii) metachronous, defined as malignancies that occur >6 months apart. In a recent study, the risks of developing second primary cancers were higher in cancer survivors compared with the general population with a 3.8% higher incidence of metachronous second primary cancers within a median follow-up time of 2.5 years; furthermore, the estimated 10-year cumulative risk of second primary cancers for patients who were firstly diagnosed with cancer aged between 60 and 69 was as high as 13% (4). Compared with a single primary tumor, MPMNs have increased malignant behavior and a worse prognosis (5).