Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patient with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletion unresponsive to Afatinib monotherapy: a case report

作者：Caijiu Deng, Junming Huang, Qian Yu, Jianjun Han, Yuanxue Jiang, Liping Lin, Xiaolong Cao · 发表于：Discover Oncology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1007/s12672-025-02271-2 · 研究领域：Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies、Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations、Gastric Cancer Management and Outcomes

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients is still unknown. Here, we report a 67-year-old CCA patient with EGFR exon 19 deletion receiving afatinib treatment. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 67-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to persistent abdominal pain for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomography showed a tumor with a diameter of 92 mm in the left liver with multiple intrahepatic metastases. Immunohistochemistry revealed that tumor cells were positive for CK7 and CK19, and negative for hepatocyte and CDX- 2. A pathological diagnosis of intrahepatic CCA was made. Since the patient declined standard chemotherapy, afatinib was administered as the first-line treatment. Upon disease progression, apatinib was introduced. Unfortunately, the patient ultimately succumbed to hepatic failure, with a total survival of 1.8 months. CONCLUSION: In this report, the CCA patient with EGFR exon 19 deletion was unresponsive to afatinib treatment. However, genetic testing may be still worthwhile for CCA to increase the possible treatment options.