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Experimental Hematology & Oncology

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the skin with clinical response to lapatinib

Authors: John D. Strickley, Aaron C. Spalding, M. Tye Haeberle, Timothy Brown, Don A. Stevens, Jae Jung

Published in: Experimental Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks the HER2 receptor and is typically used in the setting of metastatic breast cancer. Both ERBB2 (HER2) and ERBB3 (HER3) belong to the same family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Dimerization of these receptors leads to activation of cell proliferation and survival pathways, granting oncogenic potential to dysregulated ERBB/HER receptors. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of tumors has ushered in a new era of personalized oncology therapy and has the ability to detect mutations in ERBB receptors.

Case presentation

We present a patient with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma who failed surgery, radiation, and anti-PD1 therapy, but showed clinical response to a drug targeting an ERBB3 mutation identified with NGS. Following initiation of the drug lapatinib, this patient exhibited dramatic tumor regression in the skin, soft tissue, bone and nerves.

Conclusions

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the 2nd most common skin cancer in humans and future investigation of ERBB2 targeted therapies may provide an effective treatment strategy for patients with mutations in the ERBB2/3 pathway.

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Title: Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the skin with clinical response to lapatinib
Authors: John D. Strickley
Aaron C. Spalding
M. Tye Haeberle
Timothy Brown
Don A. Stevens
Jae Jung
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Experimental Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2162-3619
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-018-0111-z

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