It Is All in the Genes: A Story of Unexpected Survival in a 67-Year-Old Male with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Background: We describe a case report of a 67-year-old male with PDAC who experienced an exceptional survival outcome during systemic therapy and its implications in precision medicine. We hypothesize that his outcomes are attributable, in part, to a germline BRCA2 deletion and somatic GNAS substitution.

Methods: Retrospective single-patient chart review was performed at the London Regional Cancer Program, as well as a structured literature search spanning all years in PubMed of BRCA and GNAS mutations in pancreatic cancer.

Results: The case described herein represents a 67-year-old male who survived over 27 months after third-line treatment with gemcitabine, docetaxel, and capecitabine (GTX) chemotherapy for metastatic PDAC after progression on gemcitabine and Abraxane and then on FOLFIRINOX. His survival far exceeded the median overall survival metrics. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic heterozygous germline BRCA2 6643delT p.(Tyr2215Thrfs^∗14) frameshift mutation and somatic GNAS 2531G > A p.(Arg844His) mutation.

Conclusions: This case highlights the urgent need to expand our knowledge of cancer biology to advance personalized cancer treatment and therapy development.