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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Using 22C3 Anti-PD-L1 Antibody Concentrate on Biopsy and Cytology Samples from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
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Initial Therapeutic Approach with Pembrolizumab in Synchronous Multiple Cancers, Including Non-Small Cell Lung

Tomonobu Koizumi1, Shintaro Kanda1, Takashi Kobayashi1

  • 1Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

Chemotherapy
|December 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Pembrolizumab shows promise for treating synchronous multiple primary cancers, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. This immunotherapy approach yielded positive responses in some patients, offering a potential new treatment strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Synchronous multiple primary cancers present significant clinical challenges.
  • Effective treatment strategies for patients with multiple co-occurring malignancies are needed.
  • Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a key biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Observation:

  • Four cases of synchronous primary cancers, including advanced NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression, were treated with pembrolizumab.
  • Two patients with NSCLC experienced efficacy with pembrolizumab, followed by other therapies for concurrent esophageal or gastric cancers.
  • One patient showed a complete response in both NSCLC and esophageal cancer for 3 years; another experienced gastric cancer progression leading to mortality.

Findings:

  • Pembrolizumab demonstrated efficacy in two out of four cases of synchronous cancers involving NSCLC.
  • Complete response was observed in one case for 3 years, highlighting durable benefits.
  • Non-response to pembrolizumab was noted in one case for both NSCLC and gastric cancer, while laryngeal cancer responded.

Implications:

  • Pembrolizumab represents a potential therapeutic option for synchronous cancers, particularly NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression.
  • This clinical experience supports further investigation into immunotherapy for complex multi-cancer presentations.
  • Individual patient responses can vary, necessitating tailored treatment approaches for synchronous malignancies.
Keywords:
Double cancersImmune checkpoint inhibitorMultiple primary malignancyProgrammed death ligand-1

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