Long-Term Survival in Metachronous Primary Malignancies: Stage III Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Stage IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

<b>Introduction</b>: The occurrence of a second primary lung cancer after head and neck cancer is a challenge for multidisciplinary teams, since the development of a second lung cancer negatively affects the survival rate of patients with head and neck cancer. <b>Case Presentation</b>: This article presents the case of a patient with a double location of cancer: inoperable stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma, biopsied in December 2017 (non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma), treated by means of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (2018-2021), and stage IV lung cancer (squamous carcinoma) with lung metastases, diagnosed in December 2021, treated using polychemotherapy, subsequent maintenance monochemotherapy, radiotherapy of the thorax, and subsequent maintenance monochemotherapy with a favorable result. The patient was still under treatment as of February 2025, the date of the preparation of the current article. <b>Discussion and Literature Review</b>: Regarding the location of the second metachronous cancer, studies show that the most frequent locations are the lungs and the esophagus, with the main causes being alcohol consumption and smoking. Therefore, these patients should be monitored by screening the respiratory and digestive tracts, especially in men, in order to identify a second cancer, either synchronous or metachronous, in an early stage. <b>Conclusions</b>: Educating the patient with head and neck cancer regarding quitting smoking and cutting out alcohol, as well as conducting a follow-up survey, may reduce the incidence of multiple primaries. Moreover, the multidisciplinary management of second primary lung malignancies in patients with head and neck cancer may lead to long-term disease monitoring.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-05-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14103299
Primary Topic
Multiple and Secondary Primary Cancers
Type
article
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article

Long-Term Survival in Metachronous Primary Malignancies: Stage III Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Stage IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Laura Rebegea, Alexandru Nechifor, Radu-Valeriu Toma, G. Nita et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Multiple and Secondary Primary Cancers
article

Long-Term Survival in Metachronous Primary Malignancies: Stage III Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Stage IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Laura Rebegea, Alexandru Nechifor, Radu-Valeriu Toma, G. Nita, Ionuţ Simion Coman, Liliana-Florina Andronache, Dorel Firescu, Roxana-Andreea Rahnea-Niță, Adrian-Cornel Maier, Mihai Géorgescu, Valentin Titus Grigorean
article en

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b>: The occurrence of a second primary lung cancer after head and neck cancer is a challenge for multidisciplinary teams, since the development of a second lung cancer negatively affects the survival rate of patients with head and neck cancer. <b>Case Presentation</b>: This article presents the case of a patient with a double location of cancer: inoperable stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma, biopsied in December 2017 (non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma), treated by means of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (2018-2021), and stage IV lung cancer (squamous carcinoma) with lung metastases, diagnosed in December 2021, treated using polychemotherapy, subsequent maintenance monochemotherapy, radiotherapy of the thorax, and subsequent maintenance monochemotherapy with a favorable result. The patient was still under treatment as of February 2025, the date of the preparation of the current article. <b>Discussion and Literature Review</b>: Regarding the location of the second metachronous cancer, studies show that the most frequent locations are the lungs and the esophagus, with the main causes being alcohol consumption and smoking. Therefore, these patients should be monitored by screening the respiratory and digestive tracts, especially in men, in order to identify a second cancer, either synchronous or metachronous, in an early stage. <b>Conclusions</b>: Educating the patient with head and neck cancer regarding quitting smoking and cutting out alcohol, as well as conducting a follow-up survey, may reduce the incidence of multiple primaries. Moreover, the multidisciplinary management of second primary lung malignancies in patients with head and neck cancer may lead to long-term disease monitoring.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(10)
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO), Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest (RO), "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati (RO), Institutul Oncologic Bucuresti (RO)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 85%
Multiple and Secondary Primary Cancers
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