Complete pathologic response after laparoscopic hepatectomy following treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab for anticancer drug-resistant MSI-high colon cancer liver metastasis consisting of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation: A case report

A 56-year-old man referred to our hospital for cecum cancer. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) found swollen reginal lymph nodes and liver metastasis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a solitary lesion on liver (S2). We performed a laparoscopic ileocolic resection and liver partial resection. Tumor pathology showed that these tumors were moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma (pT3N2bM1 Stage IVA). Genetic examination revealed MSI-high, KRAS wild type, and BRAF wild type. After surgery, two liver metastases were found in S4 and S7 as new lesion in EOB-MRI. We started chemotherapy with the FOLFOFIRI plus bevacizumab regimen, but two liver metastases were enlarged after six cycles of chemotherapy. As a second-line treatment, nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy was started. After three cycles of these therapy, both of these tumors shrinkage were observed. We performed laparoscopic liver resection. In specimens, there were no malignant cells. Pathological study revealed that in the initial surgery specimen, PD-L1 protein was detected in both primary and metastatic lesions, and HLA-DR, CK5/6 in liver. No recurrence was observed at 6 months after the surgery. In conclusion, we reported the case of anticancer drug-resistant MSI-high colon cancer liver metastasis was resected after treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors and a pathological complete response was found.