Combination chemotherapy with sintilimab for treatment of a male patient with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma: a case report and literature review

Xiaojing Liang; Guoqing Xu; Jisong Zhang; Li Xu; Liangliang Dong; Xiaoyue Wang; Weidong Han; Enguo Chen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1523316

Frontiers in Immunology (Jan 2025)

Combination chemotherapy with sintilimab for treatment of a male patient with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma: a case report and literature review

Xiaojing Liang,
Guoqing Xu,
Jisong Zhang,
Li Xu,
Liangliang Dong,
Xiaoyue Wang,
Weidong Han,
Enguo Chen

Affiliations

Xiaojing Liang: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Guoqing Xu: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Zhejiang University Sir Run Run Shaw Alaer Hospital, Alaer, Xinjiang, China
Jisong Zhang: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Li Xu: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Liangliang Dong: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Xiaoyue Wang: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Weidong Han: Department of Medical Oncology, the Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Enguo Chen: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1523316
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16

Abstract

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Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma (PPC) is an extremely rare malignant cancer in men with no clinical guidelines for the treatment. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has a limited effect on the prognosis of PPC. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising treatment effectiveness. A literature review revealed that a combination of chemotherapy and ICIs could prolong the survival time of PPC patients. Herein, we report a 67-year-old man with a cough, expectoration, and blood in the sputum, presenting with a mass in the lower lobe of the right lung. The hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical profile of the primary lesion showed features of choriocarcinoma, accompanied by elevations in serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was positive (70%) in the 22C3 assay. He received a combination of cisplatin, etoposide, paclitaxel, and sintilimab. Four months after the treatment began, chest computed tomography (CT) showed significant mass reduction. Therefore, ICIs may be a promising therapy option for patients with PPC.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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