Clinical use of trastuzumab combined with different chemotherapy regimens in multi‑line treatment of advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‑positive gastric cancer: A case report

Abstract

It is generally acknowledged that gastric cancer requires comprehensive treatment approaches to be adopted. For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-overexpressing gastric cancer, targeting HER2 with trastuzumab in first-line therapy combined with standard chemotherapy significantly improves the prognosis. However, there is a lack of international guidance for second-line treatment if a patient experiences disease progression. There is also no accepted conclusion regarding the efficiency of cross-line therapy with trastuzumab. The present study reports the case of a 55-year-old male with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy. Immunohistochemistry indicated that samples were EGFR(+) and HER-2(3+), with Ki-67 (20%). From abdominal computed tomography scanning and contrast-enhanced ultrasound following surgery, hepatic metastasis was identified and the patient was administered microwave thermocoagulation therapy. Since December 2012, the patient received multi-line chemotherapy regimens as follows: i) Oxaliplatin, tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil and trastuzumab; ii) paclitaxel liposome and S-1 plus trastuzumab; iii) apatinib; iv) epirubicin/oxaliplatin/xeloda; and v) irinotecan plus trastuzumab. During the course of therapy, the trastuzumab served an important function in multi-line therapy and the patient benefited from the combined therapy. The application of trastuzumab in the multi-line treatment of a patient with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer may be worthy of investigation for use in the clinic.

The role of nanotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by targeting tumor microenvironment

“…For example, a study by Li et al. ( 121 ) showed that the use of liposomal oxaliplatin combined with apatinib, a VEGFR2 inhibitor, resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and vascular normalization in vitro and in vivo . Similarly, Wang et al.…”

“…Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of nanotherapy in improving blood vessel functions in HNSCC. For example, a study by Li et al (121) showed that the use of liposomal oxaliplatin combined with apatinib, a VEGFR2 inhibitor, resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and vascular normalization in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, Wang et al (122) reported that gold nanostars with surfacemodified hyaluronic acid could selectively accumulate in HNSCC tumors and induce blood vessel normalization, which led to the enhanced efficacy of photothermal therapy.…”