Pathologic Complete Response and Long-Term Survival After Preoperative Chemotherapy for Transverse Colon Cancer With Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastases

Cureus. 2024 Apr 30;16(4):e59363. doi: 10.7759/cureus.59363. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Abstract

A 52-year-old male patient was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer and synchronous stage IVA para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastases (cT3N1bM1a of the lymph node). Six courses of mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab were administered as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Computed tomography showed shrinkage of the primary tumor and PALN metastases. Extended right hemicolectomy, D3 lymph node dissection, and PALN dissection were performed. A pathologic examination indicated that the tumor had completely changed and comprised necrotic tissue with no viable cells. Therefore, it was considered that mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab resulted in a pathologic complete response. Postoperatively, six courses of mFOLFOX6 were administered. Six years postoperatively, the patient did not exhibit any signs of recurrence. There have been few reports of pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant therapy and resection for colon cancer with synchronous PALN metastases. This report describes a unique case involving a pathologic complete response with long-term survival after mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab and radical resection, including PALN dissection. Preoperative mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab followed by radical resection and adjuvant mFOLFOX6 therapy was safe and resulted in a good outcome. This regimen should be considered for advanced colon cancer with PALN metastases.

Keywords: bevacizumab; case presentation; folfox; para-aortic lymph node metastases; preoperative chemotherapy; transverse colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports