Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in colon squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) originating from the colon is rare. In terms of its clinicopathological characteristics, this type of cancer has been reported to be more aggressive and have a worse prognosis compared with adenocarcinoma. We herein present a successful therapeutic approach applying neoadjuvant and adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in a patient with colon SCC. A 58-year-old male patient received two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen including gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and capecitabine, followed by radical excision and six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and serum tumor markers were used for reassessment and evaluation was based on the World Health Organization criteria. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the mass had shrunk and the patient was classed as having stable disease. Surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy were then performed and the patient had achieved a progression-free survival of 10 months when this report was submitted. Therefore, gemcitabine may be a treatment option for colon SCC in the neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy setting.