Remarkable Response of Toripalimab Combined with Chemotherapy in Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of Palatine Tonsil: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SaCa) of the palatine tonsil is a rare and aggressive subset of head and neck (H&N) cancer which is characterized by insensitivity to surgery and radiotherapy and a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy has led advances in the treatment of melanoma and H&N cancer, but the combined effects of immunotherapy and chemotherapy have not been sufficiently investigated. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report the case of 29-year-old Chinese women with local advanced non-resectable SaCa of the palatine tonsil who exhibited a substantial partial response to toripalimab and chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of its successful application in this context. CONCLUSION: Toripalimab combined with chemotherapy may be an effective approach for locally advanced H&N cancer in rare categories of patients, which was the first application as far as we know.