How a Patient Overcame Advanced Lung Cancer with Targeted Treatment

In 2016, a 63-year-old male patient sought medical attention due to a persistent, non-productive night cough. He had a history of hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux but showed no signs of weight loss. A former smoker who had quit a decade earlier, he underwent diagnostic imaging that revealed concerning abnormalities. An abdominal ultrasound detected a suspicious mass near the hepatic hilum, leading to further testing.

A total-body CT scan confirmed the presence of a solid, nodular mass in the right upper lung lobe, along with multiple lymph node enlargements in the mediastinum and abdomen. Bronchoscopy and cytology yielded negative results, but a PET scan highlighted multiple suspicious lesions. A biopsy of the affected lymph nodes confirmed a poorly differentiated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Further testing ruled out EGFR mutations but identified key tumor markers, including a high CEA level of 1021.2 ng/mL, indicative of an aggressive malignancy.

Given the metastatic nature of the disease, surgery was not an option. The patient began chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine. After three cycles, tumor markers showed a significant decline, and CT scans indicated partial tumor shrinkage. However, due to bone marrow suppression and anemia, he was unable to complete the full chemotherapy course.

As the disease progressed, immunotherapy with Nivolumab was introduced. This therapy proved highly effective, leading to a consistent reduction in tumor markers and lesion sizes. After 18 months of treatment, Nivolumab was discontinued as the patient had shown a sustained positive response. Regular follow-ups over the next three years, including PET scans and tumor marker monitoring, confirmed a complete response. As of 2023, no evidence of active cancer was detected.