Simultaneous multiple myeloma and non-small cell lung carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second commonest hematologic malignancy. Synchronous presentation of MM and lung cancer is a rare occurrence. The present study reports a case of MM combined with lung cancer and reviews previously reported cases of the co-existence of non-small cell lung carcinoma and MM. At Hebei General Hospital (Shijiazhuang, China), a 52-year-man was diagnosed with MM complicated by lung lesion. Lung computed tomography (CT) showed an increase in lesion density after the second cycle of chemotherapy. The lesion was surgically removed and the patient was diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma by lung biopsy pathology. After the fifth cycle of VDT (bortezomib, dexamethasone and thalidomide), the patient received autologous stem cell transplantation. Immunohistochemical staining for CD38, CD138, CD39, CD203a and TNF-α were positive in both MM and lung cancer; CD73 was only positive in lung cancer. The present study described the rare event of the simultaneous occurrence of MM and lung adenocarcinoma and discussed the potential link between the two tumors. CD38 may play a role in MM and lung cancer by changing the bone marrow microenvironment through adenosine.