Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Gallbladder cancer is predominantly adenocarcinoma.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is exceptionally rare, accounting for only 1% of malignant gallbladder tumors.
• SCC of the gallbladder is often diagnosed at advanced stages, presenting a poor prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of pure gallbladder squamous cell carcinoma in a young male patient.
• To discuss the treatment approach, including surgery and adjuvant therapies.
• To contribute to understanding the role of adjuvant treatments for this rare malignancy.

Main Methods:

• Surgical resection: Cholecystectomy, right hemicolectomy, hepatic wedge resection, and regional lymph node dissection.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy (first-line): FOLFOX regimen for six courses.
• Second-line chemotherapy for liver metastasis: Gemcitabine, cisplatin, and pembrolizumab.

Main Results:

• The patient underwent extensive surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.
• Post-surgery, liver metastasis developed, necessitating a change in chemotherapy regimen.
• The second-line chemotherapy regimen (gemcitabine, cisplatin, pembrolizumab) resulted in stable disease after three courses.

Conclusions:

• Surgery remains the primary treatment modality for gallbladder squamous cell carcinoma.
• There is no established consensus on the optimal adjuvant treatment strategy.
• This case highlights a potential treatment pathway and the need for further research into adjuvant therapies for rare gallbladder SCC.