Complete response in metastatic breast cancer with visceral crisis using a combination of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor and aromatase inhibitor: A case report from the eastern region of India

Patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in visceral crisis require systemic chemotherapy. However, a coexisting cardiac failure that contradicts the use of systemic chemotherapy often demands an alternative treatment. Here, we report a case of hormone-receptor-positive MBC with cardiological comorbidities. She was treated with a combination treatment of tablet Ribociclib (600 mg once daily for 21 days followed by 7 days gap) and tablet Letrozole (2.5 mg once daily). The patient had a complete metabolic response in 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission tomography-Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT), after 6 months of treatment. Combination treatment with Ribociclib and Letrozole is beneficial in postmenopausal females with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 neu-negative MBC in visceral crisis who have a contraindication to chemotherapy.

Concomitant echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement and epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in non-small cell lung cancer patients from eastern India

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer common driver mutations such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are usually mutually exclusive. This study aimed to elucidate the concurrence of EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement in eastern India patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma and assess the response of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy after 6 months in primary lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 198 adenocarcinomas for EGFR and ALK mutations. EGFR and ALK tests were done by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques, respectively. Radiological response was assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1). Results: EGFR/ALK co-alteration was found in 4 adenocarcinoma patients. All were males with advanced disease. Younger patients had exon 19 deletion whereas older ones showed exon 21 mutation. The initial option of ALK-TKI in all four patients was excluded straightaway due to the high-cost burden of ALK-TKI. Two of them showed a partial response while other two had stable disease after 6 months of EGFR TKI therapy. Conclusion: EGFR/ALK co-alterations in adenocarcinomas albeit rare do exist. The challenge of monetary hurdle in developing countries with ALK TKI therapy can be handled by giving only EGFR TKI in these cases of concomitant mutations. Future perspective in research could be finding an agent with the potential of dual inhibition of ALK and EGFR

Cutaneous and cardiac metastases in carcinoma of anterior tongue

Distant metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are uncommon, and the incidence rises with neck node metastasis. The lung, liver, and bones are the common possible sites for distant metastasis. Cutaneous and cardiac metastases are extremely rare situations with aggressive behaviors and present in the late course of the disease. Here, we report a case of anterior tongue cancer with cutaneous, bone, cardiac, lung, and soft tissue of right suprascapular area metastases after a gap of 2 years of follow-up of completion of treatment with radical surgery and adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy. The present case developed such type of aggressive distant metastases without any locoregional recurrence and died within 6 months of diagnosis of distant metastases