Work

Metachronous triple primary malignancies: a case report of NGS-guided multidisciplinary management and literature review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Rationale: Although the incidence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) is increasing, triple primary malignancies (TPM) remain extremely rare. The pathogenesis of MPM is currently unclear, and there is a lack of optimal management strategies. Herein, we report a case of metachronous TPM involving both the respiratory tract and the digestive tract. Objective: This report aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of the patient and emphasize the significant role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the management of MPM. Diagnoses and interventions: A 72-year-old male patient was diagnosed with a lung cancer and underwent surgical resection. Two years later, he was diagnosed with synchronous gastric cancer, rectal cancer, and bilateral pulmonary metastases. Guided by NGS and multiple MDT consultations, the patient received four cycles of individualized neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, followed by radical resection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy alongside targeted treatment. Currently, the patient's pulmonary metastatic lesions are being managed with ongoing targeted therapy. Outcomes: The patient currently maintains a good quality of life. During the follow-up period, no recurrence or metastasis of gastric or rectal cancer was observed, and the bilateral lung metastases showed a sustained partial response. Conclusions: The management of TPM is considerable complex. MDT guided by NGS can be instrumental in formulating optimal, personalized treatment strategies for such patients, which may contribute to improved clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Source: Frontiers in Oncology

DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1705144