What the study found
The authors report a 72-year-old man with metastatic de-differentiated chondrosarcoma who had a significant clinical response to the combination of pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and pazopanib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The response was temporary, with later disease progression.
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 rare cancer with few proven treatment options. They note that standard care currently lacks a repertoire of effective therapies.
What the researchers tested
This was a single case report of one patient with metastatic de-differentiated chondrosarcoma. The report describes surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, genetic sequencing, imaging with FDG PET-CT, and later treatment with vismodegib followed by pembrolizumab plus pazopanib.
What worked and what didn't
After diagnosis, lung metastases appeared and vismodegib had progressive disease as the best response. Later, pembrolizumab plus pazopanib was associated with a significant reduction in the size of the lung metastases and a progression-free period of 6 months, but the disease progressed again and treatment was stopped.
What to keep in mind
This is a single-patient report, so the findings cannot be generalized from this case alone. The abstract does not describe a control group, and the response was complicated by hepatotoxicity that improved after pazopanib dose reduction.
Key points
- A 72-year-old man with metastatic de-differentiated chondrosarcoma had a significant response to pembrolizumab plus pazopanib.
- The response lasted 6 months before later relapse and progression.
- Vismodegib did not help; the best response was progressive disease.
- Treatment was complicated by hepatotoxicity that resolved after lowering the pazopanib dose.
- The authors present the case as an example of emerging systemic therapy options for advanced de-differentiated chondrosarcoma.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Combination therapy produced a temporary response in metastatic DDCS
- Authors:
- Matthew Youssef, Peter Grimison
- Institutions:
- Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-29
- DOI:
- 10.1002/cnr2.70426
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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