Stage IV RET Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Sara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sara Whitlock, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: RET fusion-positive NSCLC

Metastatic Site: Brain; abdomen; bowel

As of November 2019, Sara had Stage IV RET fusion-positive NSCLC with a long-term response and no signs of cancer while taking selpercatinib/LOXO-292 on a clinical trial, with ongoing monthly follow-up.

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Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Liver Mimicking Cirrhosis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Original cancer: HER2-negative and PR-positive. Liver recurrence: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: liver

The breast cancer recurred in the liver after 14 years, produced pseudocirrhosis and portal-hypertension complications, and she died from hepatorenal syndrome five weeks after presentation.

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Severe reversible neurologic toxicity after apatinib for metastatic gastric cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, adrenal glands

At follow-up in April 2019, he was alive and independent about 7 years after his Stage IV diagnosis, with apatinib permanently stopped after the neurologic toxicity.

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Stage IV gastric cancer presenting with chylothorax and lymphedema

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes, pleura, peritoneum

She died 6 months after the Stage IV gastric-cancer diagnosis despite chemotherapy and repeated treatment of the malignant pleural effusions.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Janet's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Janet Klein, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: left iliac bone

Janet’s Stage 1 breast cancer later recurred and metastasized to the left iliac bone, but she had no sign of cancer from January 2010 onward while continuing palbociclib plus letrozole.

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Donna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Donna Fernandez, Female, 50s | Stage IV

While receiving nivolumab on a Phase III trial, Donna’s tumors remained present but stopped growing, and she was able to return to an active daily life.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lori's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lori Marx-Rubiner, Female | Stage IV

AACR reported that Lori Marx-Rubiner died on August 2, 2017.

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ginger's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ginger Tam, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Ginger lived for more than 5 years with metastatic lung cancer while receiving multiple research-driven treatments. She died on February 10, 2018.

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Teri's Patient Story

Patient Info: Teri Griege, Female | Stage IV

Years after her 2009 Stage IV diagnosis, Teri described herself as a cancer fighter and thriver and continued endurance athletics and cancer-research advocacy.

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: James's Patient Story

Patient Info: James “Rocky” Lagno, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

After starting ceritinib through compassionate use, Rocky reported stable disease from the middle of 2013 with quality of life close to his pre-diagnosis level, while recognizing that he was not in remission or cancer-free.

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Kate's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kate Watson, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Chest lymph nodes; spine; pelvis; femur

As of October 2019, Kate had been in remission for about 3 years with regular PET scans showing no evidence of active disease, while continuing monthly HER2-targeted maintenance treatment.

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Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Parotid Gland Eight Years Later

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Primary breast tumor: ER-positive and HER2-positive. Parotid metastasis: ER-positive, PR-negative, and HER2-positive.

Metastatic Site: left parotid gland

The isolated parotid metastasis was completely resected, one-month PET-CT showed no significant abnormality, and endocrine therapy continued with exemestane.

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Lung Cancer Brain Metastases Initially Mistaken for Neurocysticercosis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Neurologic disease progressed despite whole-brain radiation, and she died four months after the metastatic lung-cancer diagnosis.

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Severe lung injury during panitumumab treatment for metastatic colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs, bones, pelvis

She died from respiratory failure 13 days after the onset of pulmonary symptoms. Autopsy showed diffuse alveolar damage consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome and metastatic colon adenocarcinoma in the right lung.

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Metastatic Colon Cancer With KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF Mutations

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS exon 3 ; NRAS exon 2 ; BRAF exon 10 ; PIK3CA exon 2 .

Metastatic Site: liver

The liver metastases progressed despite FOLFOX and bevacizumab, and he died within one year of the initial diagnosis.

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Reversible Heart Dysfunction After FLOT Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Her speech recovered within hours and heart function returned to an ejection fraction of 65% within 1 week. Gastric-cancer treatment continued with carboplatin and paclitaxel.

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Lung Cancer Metastasis to the Iris Treated With Bevacizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right iris

The iris lesion and eye symptoms improved after bevacizumab, but he later died from systemic complications of metastatic lung cancer.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Presenting With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone; bone marrow

At seven months, she was doing well with a marked response on PET imaging, normalized right-heart pressures, and ongoing systemic treatment with palbociclib.

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Metastatic Rectal Cancer Complicated by Salmonella-Related Bowel Perforation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver; lungs

Postoperative infection and wound complications delayed palliative chemotherapy, and he died from metastatic rectal cancer one year later.

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Long-term survival after surgery for colon cancer with a stomach metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: stomach

She had no signs of recurrence 7 years and 4 months after surgery and was living with good quality of life.

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Long-Term Nivolumab Response With Thyroid and Adrenal Side Effects

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Nivolumab remained ongoing at course 82, tumor burden had fallen to one-fifth of baseline, and no disease progression was documented.

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Severe Kidney Injury During Oxaliplatin Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

His kidney function returned to baseline 2 months after the acute injury, and colorectal cancer treatment continued with 5-FU and leucovorin after oxaliplatin was stopped.

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Nivolumab-Related Myocarditis and Heart Block in Metastatic Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: left adrenal gland

He stabilized after high-dose steroids and pacemaker implantation after nivolumab was permanently stopped.

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Primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma with early chest metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs, distant lymph nodes

Twelve months after chemotherapy began, the metastatic chest lesions had not progressed and showed minor regression.

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