# Sequential anlotinib and camrelizumab combination therapy achieves exceptional survival in multi-driver mutated, TMB-low/PD-L1-low/MSS pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: case report and literature review

**Authors:** Jun Zhu, Ai Zhu, Gang Li, Lidong Liu, Ziran Gao, Jiayun Liu, Yunfei Ye, Xunzhi Zhu, Yi Li, Hong Chen, Meijin Huang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1718918 · 2026-01-08

## TL;DR

A rare lung cancer patient survived 72 months with a unique treatment combining anlotinib and camrelizumab, despite having multiple mutations and low immune markers.

## Contribution

A novel sequential combination therapy overcomes multiple biological barriers in a multi-driver mutated, immunoresistant lung cancer case.

## Key findings

- The patient achieved 72-month overall survival, far exceeding the typical 12-month median for advanced PSC.
- The treatment provided 37-month progression-free survival, surpassing historical benchmarks.
- The therapy successfully bypassed PD-L1 resistance, TMB limitations, and microsatellite stability.

## Abstract

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose molecular characteristics and therapeutic strategies remain poorly defined. This case report documents an exceptional 72-month overall survival in a 40-year-old male patient with stage IVa pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC). The patient harbored seven coexisting driver mutations [ROS1, RET(exon16,exon19), TSC2, ALK, STK11, PTEN] and exhibited triple-negative immunosuppressive biomarkers: low PD-L1 expression (TPS 3%), low tumor mutational burden (TMB, 11mut/Mb), and microsatellite stable (MSS) status. Sequential anlotinib (anti-angiogenic drug) and camrelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) combination therapy overcame three biological barriers: (1) angiogenesis inhibition reversed PD-L1 primary resistance by remodeling the tumor microenvironment; (2) treatment induced neoantigens bypassed TMB-L/MSS limitations; (3) multi-target synergy against seven driver mutations. This approach resulted in unprecedented survival outcomes: the 72-month overall survival dramatically exceeds the median OS of less than 12 months reported for advanced PSC, and the patient maintained a progression-free survival of over 37 months on combination therapy, surpassing historical PFS benchmarks. This case provides a clinically actionable framework for managing multi-driver mutated, immunoresistant PSC.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** ROS1 (ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 6098], RET (ret proto-oncogene) [NCBI Gene 5979], TSC2 (TSC complex subunit 2) [NCBI Gene 7249], ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238], STK11 (serine/threonine kinase 11) [NCBI Gene 6794], PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) [NCBI Gene 5728]
- **Chemicals:** anlotinib (PubChem CID 25017411)
- **Diseases:** non-small cell lung cancer (MONDO:0005233)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** ROS1 (ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 6098] {aka MCF3, ROS, c-ros-1}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 29126] {aka ADMIO5, B7-H, B7H1, PD-L1, PDCD1L1, PDCD1LG1}, RET (ret proto-oncogene) [NCBI Gene 5979] {aka CDHF12, CDHR16, HSCR1, MEN2A, MEN2B, MTC1}, PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) [NCBI Gene 5728] {aka 10q23del, BZS, CWS1, DEC, GLM2, MHAM}, ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238] {aka ALK1, CD246, NBLST3}, PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 5133] {aka ADMIO4, AIMTBS, CD279, PD-1, PD1, SLEB2}, TSC2 (TSC complex subunit 2) [NCBI Gene 7249] {aka LAM, PPP1R160, TSC4}, STK11 (serine/threonine kinase 11) [NCBI Gene 6794] {aka LKB1, PJS, hLKB1}
- **Diseases:** tumor (MESH:D009369), NSCLC (MESH:D002289), PSC (MESH:D002292)
- **Chemicals:** camrelizumab (MESH:C000631724), anlotinib (MESH:C000625192)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12823830/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12823830