What the study found
A 72-year-old man with metastatic de-differentiated chondrosarcoma had a significant clinical response to combination therapy with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and pazopanib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that this case is a valuable example of promising emerging systemic therapies for advanced de-differentiated chondrosarcoma, a cancer for which the present standard of care lacks effective treatments.
What the researchers tested
This was a single case report of a patient who presented with a painful pathological fracture of the left humerus, underwent surgery and radiotherapy, had tumor sequencing, and later received vismodegib and then combined pazopanib plus pembrolizumab after lung metastases appeared.
What worked and what didn't
Vismodegib was associated with progressive disease as the best observed response. After starting pazopanib plus pembrolizumab, the lung metastases decreased in size and the patient had 6 months of progression-free time; treatment was complicated mainly by hepatotoxicity that improved after lowering the pazopanib dose. Disease later relapsed and progressed, and therapy was stopped.
What to keep in mind
This is a single patient case report, so it does not establish how well this treatment works more broadly. The abstract also notes that the patient died 14 months after diagnosis and that limitations are not otherwise described in the available summary.
Key points
- A 72-year-old man with metastatic de-differentiated chondrosarcoma responded to pembrolizumab plus pazopanib.
- The patient’s lung metastases decreased in size after the combination therapy started.
- The response lasted 6 months without progression.
- Vismodegib produced progressive disease as the best observed response.
- Treatment-related hepatotoxicity improved after lowering the pazopanib dose.
- Disease later relapsed, and the patient died 14 months after diagnosis.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Combination therapy showed a temporary response in metastatic DDCS
- Authors:
- Matthew Youssef, Peter Grimison
- Institutions:
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-29
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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