Successful Outcome of a Patient with Concomitant Pancreatic and Renal Carcinoma Receiving Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside Therapy Alone: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest malignancies. Kidney cancer (KC) is a common malignancy globally. Chemo- or radio-therapies are not very effective to control PC or KC, and overdoses often cause severe site reactions to the patients. As a result, novel treatment strategies with high efficacy but without toxic side effects are urgently desired. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) belongs to plant lignans with potential anticancer activities, but clinical evidence is not available in PC or KC treatment.

Patient Concerns

We report a rare case of an 83-year-old female patient with pancreatic and kidney occupying lesions that lacked the conditions to receive surgery or chemo- or radiotherapy.

Diagnosis

Pancreatic and kidney cancers.

Interventions

We gave dietary SDG to the patient as the only therapeutics.

Outcomes

SDG effectively halted progression of both PC and KC. All clinical manifestations, including bad insomnia, loss of appetite, stomach symptoms, and skin itching over the whole body, all disappeared. The initial massive macroscopic hematuria became microscopic and infrequent, and other laboratory results also gradually returned to normal. Most of the cancer biomarkers, initially high such as CEA, CA199, CA724, CA125, came down rapidly, among which CA199 changed most radically. This patient has had progression-free survival of one year so far.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the potent inhibitory effects of SDG on PC and KC of this patient and provide promising novel therapeutics for refractory malignant tumors.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• pancreatic cancer
• kidney cancer
• lignans
• secoisolariciresinol diglucoside
• CA199

Abbreviations

PC, Pancreatic cancer; KC, Kidney cancer; SDG, Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside; CEA, Carcinoembryonic antigen; CA199, Carbohydrate antigen 199; CA724, Carbohydrate antigen 724; CA125, Carbohydrate antigen 125; ICIs, Immune checkpoint inhibitors; OS, Overall survival; MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging; T1WI, T1-weighted imaging; T2WI, T2-weighted imaging.

Data Sharing Statement

We confirm that all the supporting data mentioned in this manuscript can be provided.

Ethical Approval

Written informed consent for publication was obtained from the patient.

Consent for Publication

We confirm that the work described has not been published before; that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that its publication has been approved by all the authors; that its publication has been approved by the responsible authorities at the institution where the work was carried out. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying materials.

Acknowledgments

We thank the patient for her cooperation. We also acknowledge all the research staff for their contributions to this project. We thank Qiu-Cheng Wang for providing representative enhanced MRI and ultrasound images.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hao Wu, Grant Number: NSFC82202996. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Gui-Rong Liu, Grant Number: NSFC81971910. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shu-Lin Liu, Grant Numbers: NSFC81871623, NSFC82020108022. Haiyan Fund Project of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Hao Wu, Grant Number: JJMS 2022-06. The Fundamental Research Funds for the Provincial Universities, Hao Wu, Grant Number: 2022-KYYWF-0288. Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Financial Assistance, Hao Wu, Grant Number: LBH-Z22219. Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation Outstanding Youth Project, Hao Wu, Grant Number: YQ2023 H022. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Hao Wu, Grant Number: 2023MD734172.