Combination treatment with trastuzumab and crizotinib in metastatic gastric cancer harboring Her-2 amplification and c-MET amplification: A case report

RATIONALE: Metastatic gastric cancer patients with poor eastern cooperative oncology group performance status (PS) (≥3) were lack of effective anti-tumor strategies. They always lived with poor PS, severe and multiple symptoms, and usually resulted in extremely limited survival time. Herein, we reported a patient diagnosed with gastric cancer metastasized to multiple bones, along with lymphangitis carcinomatosa in lungs, harboring Her-2 and c-MET amplification with poor PS, positively responded to combinational therapy with trastuzumab and crizotinib. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient complained of persistent cough and fatigue for 2 months, otherwise, she denied smoking, alcohol history, or any other medical or family history. DIAGNOSIS: With the biopsy results from gastroscopy, as well as computer tomography for chest and abdomen, the patient was diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma, with metastasis on lungs, left adrenal gland, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and multiple bones. INTERVENTIONS: Because of the poor PS (PS = 3), as well as Her-2 and c-MET amplification, the patient received combination treatment with trastuzumab and crizotinib as salvage strategy. OUTCOMES: After 2 months’ exposure of trastuzumab and crizotinib, symptoms including persistent cough, and chest distress were alleviated significantly. Simultaneously, chest computer tomography showed significant dissipation of lymphangitis carcinomatosa, as well as apparent reduction of pleural effusion. No adverse reactions including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or hypertension was observed during the following 2 months. LESSONS: The present case suggested that combinational therapy with trastuzumab and crizotinib might be effective in metastatic gastric cancer patients harboring Her-2 and c-MET amplification, even with a poor PS. It was also implied that gene sequencing might be valuable, especially in patients with limited treatment strategies.