Advanced gastric small cell carcinoma with immunotherapy-based treatment: A case report.

BACKGROUND

The clinical and pathological characteristics of primary gastric small cell carcinoma (GSCC) resemble those of small cell lung cancer, which is less sensitive to chemotherapy and has a poor prognosis. Currently, platinum-etoposide chemotherapy is a primary chemotherapy regimen for small cell carcinoma, but it is still imperfect. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of small cell lung cancer. However, to determine whether PD-L1 inhibitors are optimal for metastatic GSCC requires more clinical data.

CASE SUMMARY: A 67-year-old male experienced upper abdominal pain without any obvious cause for 1 week. Gastroscopy examination revealed a mass in the gastric body. Pathological examination of the biopsy specimen combined with immunohistochemistry showed a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (small cell carcinoma). Genetic tests showed TP53, CREBBP, RB1, ABCB1, DNMT3A, and HGF gene mutations. Computed tomography (neck + chest + abdomen) showed multiple enlarged lymph nodes, occupying space in the greater curvature of the stomach and intrahepatic metastases. A regimen consisting of cisplatin and etoposide combined with durvalumab was administered every three weeks as palliative chemotherapy, for seven cycles. Durvalumab was then maintained every three weeks. However, the tumor recurred two months after the completion of chemotherapy. A regimen consisting of carboplatin and irinotecan combined with durvalumab was then given every three weeks. The tumor in the gastric body and liver shrank significantly, and the patient did not report any specific discomfort.

CONCLUSION

GSCC is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Whether immune-related drugs are optimal for metastatic GSCC requires further exploration.