A SDHB malignant paraganglioma with dramatic response to temozolomide-capecitabine

Ten percent of paragangliomas are malignant and one-third occurs in a genetic background. We report a case of succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB)-related malignant paraganglioma with dramatic response to temozolomide and capecitabine regimen (decrease in tumor size of 70% with RECIST criteria). Tumor cells harbored a new mutation in SDHB gene and showed aberrant hypermethylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase promoter. Our report suggests the importance of molecular predictive factors of response for the selection of chemotherapeutic as well as targeted agents. This observation points to a possible genotype response to treatment relationships, which could help to design tailor-made treatments in the future.