Neurokinin‑1 receptor antagonist aprepitant and radiotherapy, a successful combination therapy in a patient with lung cancer: A case report

Abstract

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death and is responsible for more than one‑quarter (27%) of all cancer deaths. Non‑small‑cell LC (NSCLC) is the main histological subtype of LC and is the leading cause of mortalities associated with cancer. This case report focused on a patient showing a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a NSCLC squamous cell carcinoma (single mass with a diameter of 8x7 cm, without metastasis). Due to the COPD, neither a surgical treatment (pneumonectomy) nor chemotherapy was possible. After 15 days following the diagnosis, the patient was treated for 45 days with radiotherapy and the neurokinin‑1 receptor, aprepitant (compassionate use, 1,140 mg/day). Radiotherapy was administered to the right lung and mediastinum, reaching 50.4 Gy and then overprinted to 65 Gy. In each successive control, the tumor volume decreased and, after 6 months of treatment, the chest computed tomography scan showed that the tumor mass had disappeared. No side‑effects were observed during the combination therapy; in contrast, the patient was in very good general health with a weight gain and showing no biochemical analytical alteration. This case report suggests a witness episode to the antitumor effect of aprepitant/radiotherapy against NSCLC. Urgent development is required for clinical trials to test the combination treatment (radiotherapy and aprepitant) as an antitumor therapy for patients with LC.