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Case Reports
. 2023 Dec 23:47:101974.
doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2023.101974. eCollection 2024.

Efficacy of durvalumab plus chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Naoya Ishibashi  1 , Toshiharu Tabata  1 , Ryo Nonomura  1 , Yutaka Oshima  1 , Takanobu Sasaki  1 , Hideki Mitomo  1 , Takafumi Sugawara  1 , Motoyasu Sagawa  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Efficacy of durvalumab plus chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Naoya Ishibashi et al. Respir Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare disease but is often associated with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). We discuss the case of a 65-year-old man diagnosed with SCLC-LEMS and treated with carboplatin, etoposide, and durvalumab. Lower extremity weakness and high anti-P/Q voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody levels were diagnostic and helpful. The patient showed a reduction in neurological symptoms with treatment for SCLC, including an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), without standard treatment for LEMS. This treatment may be a treatment option, although the recurrence of LEMS as an immune-related adverse events (irAEs) should be noted.

Keywords: Durvalumab; Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS); Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chest X-ray film on admission showed tumor shadows in the right middle lung field (arrowhead) and right hilar hilum swelling (arrow) (A). Chest CT on admission. CT showed an 11mm mass in the right lower lobe (circle) (B). Contrast-enhanced CT showed multiple right hilar hilum lymph swelling (C). CT after 6 courses of durvalumab showed marked reduction of hilar lymph nodes (D).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Histological findings from left lung partial resection reveal small cell carcinoma ((A). H.E. stain). Waxing was observed with 50Hz stimulation of the ulnar nerve (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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