Case Report: Epstein-Barr virus Positive Gastric Carcinoma

Abstract

In 2014, The Cancer Genome Atlas provided a molecular classification defining Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive gastric cancer as a separate subtype. While its prognostic role is still debatable, emerging potential biomarker role for personalized treatment strategies is already recognized by international guidelines. We report a case with successful combined therapy of a 64-year-old EBV-positive gastric cancer male patient. Patient initially presented with locally advanced gastric cancer, which was treated surgically; three years later patient developed recurrence within the remnant stomach and was treated surgically. Two years after operation patient developed distant metastases and was enrolled in a clinical trials’ (NCT01630083) arm 2: receiving chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody claudiximab. This treatment induced durable disease stabilisation for 34 months. After progression, second line chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin provided additional disease stabilisation and symptom control for 8 months. Patient’s overall survival reached 9.1 years. Presented report shows EBV- ositive gastric cancer case with better overall survival compared to reported average, which contributes to the meaningfulness of its distinction as a separate subtype, evidence that targeted therapy is more effective in selected patient groups, and EBV as an emerging biomarker.