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Durable Response to Pembrolizumab With Chemotherapy in EGFR-Mutated Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is the standard treatment for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although a small subset of patients does not respond to EGFR-TKI, especially in patients with a smoking history and squamous cell histology. Additionally, even given an initial good response, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI is inevitable. More individualized treatment could be necessary in certain types of EGFR-mutated NSCLC. We herein report a case of EGFR-mutated metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma with a high tumor proportion score (TPS) of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), where chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab therapy had a durable efficacy. In this case, chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab therapy was administered, though EGFR-TKI is the standard first-line therapy of EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Three years after treatment initiation, no sign of recurrence was observed. This case suggests that a detailed evaluation of a patient's background is important in making an effective personalized therapeutic strategy.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.81973

Authors: Taira Ninomaru, Sho Yoshimura, Satoshi Mukaida, Kenjiro Matsuo, Yohei Kimura, Tokiko Nakai

Institution: Hyogo Prefectural Harima-Himeji General Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409305138