Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer, especially lung cancer, is a rare biological event with a mechanism that is not currently understood. Immunological mechanisms seem to be the stronger explanation in SR of a lung cancer. We report the rare case of SR of a lung adenocarcinoma stage IA, in a 75-year-old man, which was incidentally diagnosed and histologically confirmed. Due to the patient’s comorbidities and his poor pulmonary function, stereotactic radiotherapy was scheduled. However, by the time the treatment was due to start, the tumor was no longer detectable.
InuiM, SanoA, AsaiI, ItoS, TsuchiyaT, FukudaT. Spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer. Cancer Treat Commun. 2015;3:21-3. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrc.2015.02.001].
Lopez-PastoriniA, PlönesT, BrockmannM, LudwigC, BeckersF, StoelbenE. Spontaneous regression of non-small cell lung cancer after biopsy of a mediastinal lymph node metastasis: a case report. J Med Case Reports. 2015;9(1):217. [https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-015-0702-9].
KitaiH, Sakakibara-KonishiJ, OizumiS, et al. Spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer combined with cancer associated retinopathy. Lung Cancer. 2015;87(1):73-6. [PMID:25468200] [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2014.10.015].
FurukawaM, OtoT, YamaneM, ToyookaS, KiuraK, MiyoshiS. Spontaneous regression of primary lung cancer arising from an emphysematous bulla. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011;17(6):577-9. [PMID:21881362] [https://doi.org/10.5761/atcs.cr.10.01638].
MizunoT, UsamiN, OkasakaT, KawaguchiK, OkagawaT, YokoiK. Complete spontaneous regression of non-small cell lung cancer followed by adrenal relapse. Chest. 2011;140(2):527-8. [PMID:21813532] [https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.10-2564].
HiranoS, NakajimaY, MorinoE, et al. A case of spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer with progression of paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy. Lung Cancer. 2007;58(2):291-5. [PMID:17574297] [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2007.05.005].
PujolJL, GodardAL, JacotW, LabaugeP l. Spontaneous complete remission of a non-small cell lung cancer associated with anti-Hu antibody syndrome. J Thorac Oncol. 2007;2(2):168-70. [PMID:17410036] [https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31802f1c9d].
HorinoT, TakaoT, YamamotoM, GeshiT, HashimotoK. Spontaneous remission of small cell lung cancer: a case report and review in the literature. Lung Cancer. 2006;53(2):249-52. [PMID:16790292] [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2006.05.011].
KappaufH, GallmeierWM, WünschPH, et al. Complete spontaneous remission in a patient with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol. 1997;8(10):1031-9. [PMID:9402178] [https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008209618128].