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Successful salvage of a severe COVID-19 patient previously with lung cancer and radiation pneumonitis by mesenchymal stem cells: a case report and literature review

Authors :
Xiaohua Huang
Xin Tan
Xiuwen Xie
Tingshu Jiang
Yang Xiao
Zenghui Liu
Source :
Frontiers in Immunology, Vol 15 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2024.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, elderly patients with underlying condition, such as tumors, had poor prognoses after progressing to severe pneumonia and often had poor response to standard treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be a promising treatment for patients with severe pneumonia, but MSCs are rarely used for patients with carcinoma. Here, we reported a 67-year-old female patient with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent osimertinib and radiotherapy and suffered from radiation pneumonitis. Unfortunately, she contracted COVID-19 and that rapidly progressed to severe pneumonia. She responded poorly to frontline treatment and was in danger. Subsequently, she received a salvage treatment with four doses of MSCs, and her symptoms surprisingly improved quickly. After a lung CT scan that presented with a significantly improved infection, she was discharged eventually. Her primary disease was stable after 6 months of follow-up, and no tumor recurrence or progression was observed. MSCs may be an effective treatment for hyperactive inflammation due to their ability related to immunomodulation and tissue repair. Our case suggests a potential value of MSCs for severe pneumonia that is unresponsive to conventional therapy after a COVID-19 infection. However, unless the situation is urgent, it needs to be considered with caution for patients with tumors. The safety in tumor patients still needs to be observed.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16643224
Volume :
15
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Immunology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.9bbf27b4e8e9433588e3dc3939c0c0a9
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1321236