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Recurrent gastric cancer(GC)with splenic metastasis showed poor prognosis, and its treatment strategy remains unclear. Recently, studies identified the considerable prognostic effect of metastasectomy in GC following intensive chemotherapy. Here, we successfully treated a patient with Epstein-Barr virus-positive esophagogastric junctional cancer with splenic metastasis who underwent metastasectomy and obtained pathological complete response following immune checkpoint therapy and had long-term survival. We reviewed the literature to discuss the clinical significance of our treatment strategy.

We report a case of pembrolizumab therapy as the fourth-line therapy for colorectal cancer and multiple lymph node recurrence with high-frequency microsatellite instability(MSI-High). The patient was a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with ascending colon cancer(pT4aN2bM0, Stage Ⅲc)and underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, D3 dissection, and functional end-to-end anastomosis after inserting a self-expandable metallic stent. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was performed, and the patient was followed. Postoperative 1 year 8 months, lymph node recurrence was indicated, and FOLFOX plus panitumumab therapy was introduced. FOLFIRI plus ramucirumab therapy and FTD/TPI were introduced as the second-line and third-line treatments, respectively; however, recurrent lymph nodes were further exacerbated and showed treatment resistance. Lymph node biopsy confirmed MSI-High, and pembrolizumab therapy was initiated as the fourth-line treatment. After the therapy, the lymph nodes reduced markedly. The patient remains undergoing chemotherapy without any adverse events.

KEYNOTE-158 and 061 trials revealed the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab(KEYTRUDA®)treatment in patients with recurrent high microsatellite instability(MSI-high)gastric cancer following gastrectomy. Here, we successfully treated an elderly case with recurrences following radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer using pembrolizumab as a second- line chemotherapy. Even in elderly patients, pembrolizumab might contribute to effective and safe treatment in late-line chemotherapy for recurrent MSI-high gastric cancer.