Programmed cell death-1 blockade in recurrent disseminated Ewing sarcoma

J Hematol Oncol. 2016 Jun 3;9(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s13045-016-0278-x.

Abstract

Background: Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a malignant tumour of bone and soft tissue, and although many patients are cured with conventional multimodal therapy, those with recurrent or metastatic disease have a poor prognosis. Genomic instability and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression have been identified in EWS, providing a rationale for treatment with agents that block the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor.

Case presentation: In this report, we describe a heavily pre-treated patient with recurrent metastatic EWS who achieved a clinical and radiological remission with PD-1 blockade.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case demonstrating efficacy of PD-1 blockade in EWS. This warrants further investigation in particular given the poor prognosis in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.

Keywords: Anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody; Case report; Ewing sarcoma; Immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Recurrence
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / diagnostic imaging
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / drug therapy*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / pathology
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / radiotherapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • pembrolizumab