Personalized therapy based on sequential molecular analysis leads to 30 months of survival in a patient with diffuse unresectable gastric linitis plastica

Introduction: Diffuse gastric cancer is associated with poor prognosis. We report a patient with metastatic gastric linitis plastica harboring human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) activating mutation and HER2 amplification.

Case description: The patient received 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid and oxaliplatin combined with trastuzumab/pertuzumab, resulting in disease control for 8 months. Second-line therapy with nivolumab and trastuzumab/pertuzumab was well-tolerated, with macroscopic peritoneal response. Following ovarian progression and surgical resection of ovarian metastases, immunohistochemistry of PD-L1 was negative; proteomics demonstrated normal expression of HER2 and absence of PD-L1, while genomics showed HER2 amplification, suggesting mechanisms of escape to dual HER2 blockade by downregulation of HER2 and to nivolumab by the absence of PD-L1. Based upon this and nonexpression of biomarkers of taxane resistance, therapy was changed to paclitaxel. Two and a half years after diagnosis, the patient is undergoing treatment, with excellent performance status.

Conclusions: Molecular analysis and personalized therapy can help optimize treatment in difficult-to-treat cancers.