Complete Spontaneous Regression of Squamous-Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

Spontaneous regression of cancer is an extremely rare phenomenon, and it has been described in only a few cases of pulmonary cancer. We report a case of complete spontaneous regression of squamous-cell lung cancer (SCLC) following a core needle biopsy in a 67-year-old female patient with two previous lung cancers and concomitant follicular lymphoma. The patient was diagnosed with SCLC after 4 core needle biopsies from a nodule in the left upper lobe and at the same time suspected of having follicular lymphoma. Treatment for the lung cancer was delayed by approximately 8 weeks because the diagnosis of lymphoma was both challenging and time-consuming. A computed tomography scan was performed in relation to the scheduled treatment for SCLC, showing that the pulmonary nodule had disappeared completely. Most other cases of spontaneous regression of lung cancer hint at the involvement of immunological factors, and this case possibly involves a combination of mechanical and local immunological factors. Genetic and immunological analysis of patients showing spontaneous regression of cancers could provide valuable information.

Progression to Lymph Node Metastasis After Spontaneous Regression of Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Following Biopsy

“…Fever, infection, injury, and medication have been clinically postulated to be among the mechanisms of SR (13); however, our patient did not have any reason except for injury by biopsy. Twenty-three cases of SR of lung cancer have been previously reported in the literature; these histological types included SCC in seven patients, small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) in eight patients, NSCLC in two patients, adenocarcinoma in four patients, and large cell carcinoma in two patients (5,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Most SR of lung cancer were identified as SCC or SCLC without an underlying reason.…”

“…Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer, which is complete or partial disappearance of malignant tumors without any treatment, is an extremely rare phenomenon (1). Although this phenomenon has been described in different types of cancer, few cases involving lung cancer have been reported, and it is rarer in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than in other cancers (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

“…Little is known about the detailed mechanism of SR in cancer; it is poorly understood due to multiple factors, such as immunological imbalance for cancer progression, hormonal changes, infections, or operative trauma (5)(6)(7). Recently, several researchers reported SR in NSCLC after biopsy (5,(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

“…Little is known about the detailed mechanism of SR in cancer; it is poorly understood due to multiple factors, such as immunological imbalance for cancer progression, hormonal changes, infections, or operative trauma (5)(6)(7). Recently, several researchers reported SR in NSCLC after biopsy (5,(8)(9)(10)(11). A possible explanation for this is that biopsy using endoscopic forceps may trigger the release of antigens with consequent activation of the immune system (5,(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

“…Recently, several researchers reported SR in NSCLC after biopsy (5,(8)(9)(10)(11). A possible explanation for this is that biopsy using endoscopic forceps may trigger the release of antigens with consequent activation of the immune system (5,(8)(9)(10)(11). Furthermore, two recent reports have described the exacerbation of lymph node metastasis after SR of NSCLC.…”