Bone metastasis from lung cancer identified by genetic profiling

Cancer metastasis remains responsible for the vast majority of cases of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Metastasis, by its definition, is the spread of cancer from the primary site to the distant tissues. Advancing the scientific and clinical understanding of cancer metastasis is a high priority. The prerequisite requirement for pathological consistency may be compromised during metastasis. The present study reports the case of a cancer patient with different pathological types. The patient presented with pain in the neck and right hip, as well as weight loss. He underwent whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography, which identified a mass in the lung and abnormal metabolism of the bone. Biopsies of the ilium and lung were performed and he was shown to have lung adenocarcinoma and bone squamous carcinoma. The morphology and immunohistochemical patterns were completely different, while each lesion harbored an identical genetic profile. The bone lesion was identified to be a metastasis from the lung cancer. The patient was prescribed an epithelial growth factor receptor inhibitor, which resulted in a partial response in the lung mass and alleviation of the patient's bone pain. Through this case study, we advocate the importance of using genetic testing in addition to pathological assessment.