Combination of Local Ablative Therapy and Continuation of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Therapy Provides Durable Treatment Response Past Oligometastatic Progression in NSCLC: A Case Report

Abstract

Adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare type of non-small cell lung cancer associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. There is limited data for the management of mixed histology disease in elderly or frail patients. A 79-year-old woman with no smoking history presented with a right upper lobe lung mass on chest x-ray. Biopsy of the mass demonstrated an EGFR-amplified, PD-L1 positive adenosquamous lung cancer. The mass was surgically resected but the patient was not a candidate for adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient later developed a metastatic paraspinal lesion that was successfully managed with SBRT. Approximately six months later, the patient developed adrenal metastases and pembrolizumab was initiated. After three cycles of systemic therapy, she developed subcutaneous lesions in her back and chest wall, which were managed with palliative resection. Scans demonstrate stable disease and continued responsiveness to pembrolizumab over one year from the most recent local ablative therapy. This case illustrates the potential role of local ablative therapy for oligometastatic progression, as it may confer significant benefit in elderly patients or those with a more indolent disease course. Additionally, we have demonstrated that continuing immunotherapy past progression is reasonable in patients with no viable alternate therapy options, as delayed responses may occur.

Keywords

• oligometastatic disease
• local ablative therapy
• immunotherapy
• adenosquamous nsclc
• elderly patient