Spontaneous Regression Of Colon Cancer.
Kihara, K., Fujita, S., Ohshiro, T., Yamamoto, S., & Sekine, S. (2015). spontaneous regression of colon cancer. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 45(1), 111–114. https://doi.org/10.1093/jjco/hyu170
View Original Source →Abstract
A case of spontaneous regression of transverse colon cancer is reported. A 64-year-old man was diagnosed as having cancer of the transverse colon at a local hospital. Initial and second colonoscopy examinations revealed a typical cancer of the transverse colon, which was diagnosed as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent right hemicolectomy 6 weeks after the initial colonoscopy. The resected specimen showed only a scar at the tumor site, and no cancerous tissue was proven histologically. The patient is alive with no evidence of recurrence 1 year after surgery. Although an antitumor immune response is the most likely explanation, the exact nature of the phenomenon was unclear. We describe this rare case and review the literature pertaining to spontaneous regression of colorectal cancer.
Case Details
Disease Location
Transverse colon
Personal Characteristics
64-year-old male, medical history included distal gastrectomy for gastric ulcer and cholecystectomy for gallstones, 28 at 23 years previously, was taking metformin for diabetes for 15 years and glucosamine and chlorella as dietary supplements for 3 years
Clinical Characteristics
Presented with positivity for fecal occult blood, colonoscopy showed typical colon cancer ~30mm diameter in transverse colon and biopsy specimen showed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, labwork showed no remarkable abnormality; second colonoscopy 3 weeks later showed tumour to be 20mm diameter and biopsy confirmed cancer, CT showed wall thickening indicating diagnosis for lesion as t2 (mp) and no evidence of matastasis;
Remission Characteristics
6 weeks after initial colonoscopy, right hemicolectomy was performed and examination of resected specimen showed that the tumour had disappeared, leaving only a discolored scar, histological examination showed marked inflammatory infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells and fibrosis between the submucosa and muscularis propria, and no cancer cells found in the scar; follow-up one year later confirms complete regression of cancer
Treatment & Mechanisms
Clinical Treatment
Hemicolectomy