Promising response to a PD-1 inhibitor (sintilimab) in non-small cell lung cancer: A case report
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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Intratumoral Injection of Cisplatin for the Treatment of Isolated Mediastinal Recurrence of Lung Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2017
Lin Zhang1, Wuqian Mai2, Bo Hao1
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.
Rationale:
Lung cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality in China and worldwide. Among them, 85% are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). No previous reports have been published to describe the clinical effect of the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) sintilimab in NSCLC yet.
Patient Concerns:
We report a case of a 64-year-old woman with a 20-day history of chest pain with computed tomography scan showing a right lower lung mass.
Diagnoses:
Squamous NSCLC was diagnosed by bronchoscopy.
Interventions:
The patient was treated with sintilimab plus nedaplatin and paclitaxel as neoadjuvant therapy for 3 cycles, followed by right thoracotomy, right middle lobectomy, right lower lobectomy, hilar lymphadenectomy, mediastinal lymphadenectomy, and pericardiostomy.
Outcomes:
The patient was discharged from the hospital 12 days after operation. Pathological report showed no cancer residue in the lung tissue, the bronchial stump, the anastomotic lung marginal tissue, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th lymph nodes or in the peribronchial lymph nodes after repeated sampling. The pathological stage was deemed T0N0M0. She remained disease free until the latest follow up in July 2019.
Lessons:
Sintilimab is a promising drug for patients with locally advanced NSCLC. However, its efficacy still requires further clinical investigations.
Insights
Sintilimab combined with chemotherapy achieved a complete pathological response in a patient with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This suggests sintilimab is a promising treatment option for NSCLC, warranting further clinical investigation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality globally.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a significant advancement in cancer treatment.
- Sintilimab, an ICI, has shown efficacy in various cancers, but its role in NSCLC is not yet established.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old female presented with chest pain and a right lower lung mass.
- Bronchoscopy confirmed squamous NSCLC.
- The patient received neoadjuvant sintilimab plus chemotherapy.
Findings:
- The patient underwent surgery (lobectomy and lymphadenectomy) after neoadjuvant therapy.
- Post-operative pathology revealed no residual cancer (ypT0N0M0).
- The patient remained disease-free at the last follow-up in July 2019.
Implications:
- Neoadjuvant sintilimab combined with chemotherapy may induce a complete pathological response in locally advanced NSCLC.
- This case highlights the potential of sintilimab as a treatment for NSCLC.
- Further clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings and explore sintilimab's efficacy in NSCLC.
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