The efficacy of gemcitabine combined with immunotherapy in a patient with metastatic metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare form of breast carcinoma for which there is currently no standard treatment. Case presentation We report the case of a 33-year-old woman with enlargement in her left breast who was diagnosed with metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma by core needle biopsy. The patient underwent a modified radical mastectomy. The immunohistochemistry showed it was a triple-negative breast cancer: progesterone receptor-negative (PR-), estrogen receptor-negative (ER-), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 -negative (HER2-). The patient received 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin. One year later, she developed lung metastases from squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical results remained triple-negative (ER-, PR- and HER2-). The patient then received gemcitabine combined with immunotherapy. The patient has been assessed as stable disease so far. Conclusions Immunotherapy combined with gemcitabine showed good efficacy in the treatment of metastatic metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the breast after nab-paclitaxel combined with platinum-based therapy.