Responses of metastatic primary fallopian tube carcinoma to pembrolizumab and nab-paclitaxel: A case report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jul 10;99(28):e21203. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000021203.

Abstract

Rationale: Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is an extremely rare but invasive malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Very few data exist on the salvage treatment for patients with PFTC. Here we report a case showing an impressive response to immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, which have never been reported before on patients with metastatic PFTC.

Patient concerns: A 42-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with PFTC in 2010, had been failed of multiple systemic therapies and antiangiogenic therapy because of the disease recurrence and progression.

Diagnosis: Metastatic primary fallopian tube carcinoma.

Interventions: The patient underwent surgery in May 2010 and had multi-line chemotherapies plus an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) monoclonal antibody for about 9 years. Due to treatment failure the patient accepted the immunotherapy with the checkpoint inhibitor, pembrolizumab, combined with nab-paclitaxel from December 2018 to April 2019.

Outcomes: The patient showed a complete response after 6 cycles treatment. Thus far, the patient is taking pembrolizumab as maintenance and remains in good health.

Lessons: Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy for treatment of PFTC may provide a positive antitumor effect in multiple metastatic lesions, but more clinical evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albumins / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • 130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel
  • Albumins
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • pembrolizumab
  • Paclitaxel