Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report
Partial response of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with symptomatic brain metastasis to nivolumab plus high-dose oral corticosteroid: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2017
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Background
Nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the programmed death-1 receptor, is indicated in locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy. Up-to-now, few data are available concerning brain activity of this treatment and concomitant use of corticosteroids.
Case presentation
A 64-year-old caucasian man with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma associated with brain metastases received four courses of nivolumab in concomitance with a high dose of corticosteroids for his neurologic symptoms. He experienced a partial response in his brain and chest with an improvement in his general condition.
Nivolumab was effective in shrinking symptomatic brain metastases, and metastases at other sites, in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer and first-line chemotherapy failure. The effect of nivolumab was obtained despite concomitant high-dose corticosteroid therapy. Combined nivolumab and high-dose corticosteroid therapy did not induce unexpected adverse events.
Conclusion
Nivolumab and concomitant high-dose corticosteroid therapy was found to be efficient and well tolerated.