An oldest-old non-small cell lung cancer patient with abscopal effect in a single lesion

Abstract

The abscopal effect without concomitant immunotherapy is a rare event, including among cases of lung cancer. Furthermore, the occurrence of limited abscopal effect for only a single lesion in the metastatic organ consistent with the irradiated organ would be an even more rare event. A 94-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer with osteolytic bone metastases in his right iliac bone, and the right side of his axial vertebrae. After palliative radiation therapy to the right iliac lesion for pain relief without other anticancer therapy, the axial vertebral osteolytic lesion disappeared despite no reduction in the other lesions. This case furthers our understanding of the pathogenesis of the abscopal effect.

Keywords: abscopal effect; case report; non-small cell lung cancer; oldest-old; palliative radiation.