Efficacy of trastuzumab deruxtecan in an advanced gastric cancer patient with brain metastasis

Curr Probl Cancer. 2021 Dec;45(6):100757. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2021.100757. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

Abstract

Background: There is no clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) for treating advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with brain metastasis.

Case report: This is a case of a 65-year-old man with human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2)-positive AGC. He was initially treated with capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab, followed by paclitaxel and ramucirumab, nivolumab, trifluridine and tipiracil, and irinotecan regimens in addition to radiation therapy for brain metastasis. The patient exhibited refractoriness to the standard regimen used for AGC and developed relapse of the brain metastasis after radiation accompanied by headache, nausea, and dizziness. In August 2020, following the approval of T-DXd for HER2-positive AGC, he received T-DXd therapy. After 5 cycles of T-DXd, contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage and improvement of symptoms.

Conclusion: T-DXd demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of brain metastasis arising from HER2-positive AGC.

Keywords: Brain metastasis; Gastric cancer; Trastuzumab deruxtecan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Male
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Trastuzumab / pharmacology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Immunoconjugates
  • trastuzumab deruxtecan
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab
  • Camptothecin