Treatment of gastric cancer with dermatomyositis as the initial symptom: Two case reports and review of literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare autoimmune disease involving the connective tissue. The association between DM and gastric cancer remains unclear. Patients with DM have an increased risk of cancer and higher mortality. It requires immunosuppressive therapy, heightened surveillance, and immunologic response to internal malignancy.

CASE SUMMARY

Two cases of gastric cancer with DM as the first symptom in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai, China) were reported. Two patients had a typical skin rash. The rash in the first patient involved mainly bilateral upper limbs and neck, while the second patient manifested rash associated mainly with the face, neck, and back. Both manifested muscle weakness in the extremities and elevated serum creatine kinase. Radical resection of the tumor dramatically improved DM-related symptoms in the two patients. The literature review showed that gastric cancer is more commonly associated with DM in middle-aged and older male populations.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest the need for comprehensive screening for malignant tumors in patients with DM refractory to long-term pharmacotherapy or hormone manipulation.

Key Words: Gastric cancer; Dermatomyositis; Treatment; Literature review; Rash; Case report

Core Tip: Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease. Limited knowledge of the relationship between the disease and gastric cancer may complicate the diagnosis of gastric cancer. In this study, we report 2 cases of gastric cancer with dermatomyositis as the first symptom. A literature review was performed to further explore the relationship between dermatomyositis and gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare autoimmune disease involving the connective tissue. It is associated with inflammatory myopathy and a characteristic rash[1]. The incidence of DM is 0.6-1.0 per 100000[2]. Patients with DM have an increased risk of cancer and a higher mortality[3-5]. Immunosuppressive therapy, heightened surveillance, and immunologic response to internal malignancy are some of the options available[6]. Recent studies reported that the symptoms of DM are closely related to the progression of a malignant tumor, and effective treatment of the malignant tumor can alleviate the symptoms of DM[7]. This paper reports 2 cases of gastric cancer with DM as the first symptom.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

Case 1: A 67-year-old female complained about persistent rash in her bilateral upper limbs for 2 mo.

Case 2: A 67-year-old female had systemic skin erythema (purplish-red edematous erythema) for 1 year.

History of present illness

Case 1: The rash then progressed to her neck and bilateral lower limbs (Figure 1A and B).

Figure 1 Clinical photograph of the case 1. A and B: Flake red rash in the neck, upper chest, and left arm without desquamation (preoperative); C and D: The rash alleviated dramatically (day 2 after surgery).

Case 2: The patient had systemic skin erythema (purplish-red edematous erythema) on both eyelids and patchy rash on the face, neck, abdomen, and limbs for 1 year (Figure 2A and B).

Figure 2 Clinical photograph of the case 2. A: Edema erythema of the face (preoperative); B: Gottron’s papules on the dorsal aspects of fingers (preoperative); C: The rash resolved significantly (day 4 after surgery); D: Edema disappeared (day 4 after surgery).

History of past illness

Case 1: Her major medical history was a 5-year history of hypertension.

Case 2: Her major medical history was a 10-year history of hypertension.

Personal and family history

All patients had no special personal and family history.

Physical examination

Case 1: Significant findings of the physical examinations were V-neck sign (+), muscle soreness, and weakness in the extremities (Figure 1A and B).

Case 2: Significant findings of the physical examinations were shoulder shawl sign (+), V-neck sign (+), Gottron’s papule (+), muscle soreness, and weakness in the extremities (Figure 2A and B).

Laboratory examinations

Case 1: Laboratory tests showed that the anti-nuclear antibodies were negative. The levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, complement 3, and complement 4 were in the normal range. The following serum indicators were markedly elevated, including creatine kinase (CK) (344 U/L, normal: 26-140 U/L), CK-MB (30 U/L, normal: 0-23U/L), CK-MM (314 U/L, normal:16-140 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (40 U/L, normal: 13-35 U/L), and lactate dehydrogenase (441 U/L, normal: 109-245 U/L).

Case 2: Laboratory examination revealed normal ranges of serum autoimmune disease-related markers and CK. Blood examination showed increased levels of tumor markers: carbohydrate antigen-199 (68.0 U/mL, normal range < 34 U/mL) and carbohydrate antigen-724 (27.7 U/mL, normal range < 10.0U/mL).

Imaging examinations

Case 1: Electronic gastroscopy showed huge irregular ulcers about 5 cm × 4 cm in the gastric corner, and biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma. An enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed that the gastric wall at the antrum was clearly thickened and enhanced in the arterial phase (Figure 3A).

Figure 3 Preoperative computed tomography scan of the 2 patients. A: The gastric wall at the antrum was clearly thickened and enhanced in the arterial phase; B: The wall of the gastric cardia was thickened, involving the lower esophagus, and enlarged lymph nodes could be seen in the lesser curvature of the stomach.

Case 2: Electromyography showed myogenic muscle damage. Endoscopic examination showed mucosal eminence of 2 cm × 2 cm in the lower esophagus and cardia. An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed thickening of the wall of the gastric cardia, involving the lower esophagus, and enlarged lymph nodes were found in the lesser curvature of the stomach (Figure 3B).

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The main diagnosis was gastric cancer and DM.

TREATMENT

Case 1

Systemic glucocorticoid therapy was administered with hydrocortisone oral prednisolone acetate tablets (30 mg, qd, po), followed by hydroxychloroquine sulfate (100 mg, tid, po). However, no alleviation of the symptoms was observed. After 3 mo, the patient was hospitalized in Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital for epigastric discomfort. To facilitate the adjustment of drug dosage and suppress autoimmunity temporarily, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (100 mg, qd, ivgtt) was used to replace prednisone for 3 d in the preoperative period, without symptom alleviation. The patient underwent radical distal gastrectomy plus D2 lymphadenectomy in our hospital. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed pT3N1M0 (stage III B) gastric adenocarcinoma.

Case 2

Prednisone was orally administered (10 mg, qd, po) combined with azathioprine (50 mg, bid, po) and hydroxychloroquine (100 mg, bid, po). The rash was slightly alleviated; however, muscle soreness and weakness did not improve. After 2 mo, the patient was hospitalized because of epigastric discomfort. Similar to the first case, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (100 mg, qd, ivgtt) was used to replace prednisone during the preoperative period. The patient underwent radical distal gastrectomy combined with D2 lymphadenectomy in our hospital. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed pT4aN3M0 (stage III B) gastric adenocarcinoma.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

Case 1

To our surprise, the rash on the arms disappeared dramatically on the 2^nd day after the operation (Figure 1C and D). The constellation of signs and symptoms was thought to constitute a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with gastric cancer. The patient was followed up for 54 mo, and no recurrence of the rash or tumor was observed.

Case 2

The rash alleviated dramatically on the 4^th day after the operation (Figure 2C and D). The patient was followed up for 12 mo, and no recurrence of the rash or tumor was observed.

DISCUSSION

A systematic search of PubMed and Embase was performed. We listed 15 reports published from 2000 to date in Table 1[8-22]. We summarized the clinical characteristics of a total of 18 patients including 14 males and 4 females to assess the biological behavior of DM associated with gastric cancer. The 18 cases included 16 reported cases and 2 of our cases. The median age of patients was 60 (51-90) years. The diagnosis of gastric cancer in 16 cases was later than that of DM, while in 1 case it was before and in another case it was concomitant with DM. In 16 cases of gastric cancer with DM as the first symptom, the average time interval between the diagnosis of gastric cancer and DM was 11 mo. The diagnostic methods include endoscopy, CT, and positron emission tomography/CT. Among the total of 18 patients, 5 (27.8%) developed metastasis and 6 (33.3%) died.

Table 1 Reported cases of dermatomyositis associated with gastric cancer.

Ref.	Case, n	Sex	Age	Cancer diagnosis	Diagnostic method	Interval time (mo)	Metastasis	Prognosis
Our cases	2	F	67	After	Endoscopy	2	No	Survival
		F	67	After	Endoscopy	12	No	Survival
Pozharashka et al[8], 2020	1	M	58	After	CT	3	Yes	Death
Li et al[9], 2020	1	M	51	After	PET/CT	NA	Yes	NA
Shibata et al[10], 2019	1	M	71	Before	CT	9	Yes	Death
Nishikawa et al[11], 2016	1	M	70	Same time	CT	0	Yes	Death
Ge et al[12], 2014	2	M	57	After	Endoscopy	1	No	Survival
		M	66	After	Endoscopy	12	No	Survival
Yamaoka et al[13], 2014	1	F	64	After	CT	1	Yes	Death
Ito et al[14], 2013	1	M	59	After	CT	1	No	Survival
Nogi et al[15], 2012	1	F	59	After	Endoscopy	2	No	Survival
Asadi et al[16], 2010	1	M	58	After	Endoscopy	1	No	Survival
Kim et al[17], 2009	1	M	90	After	Endoscopy	60	No	Death
Castro et al[18], 2008	1	M	60	After	PET/CT	12	No	Death
Sugihara et al[19], 2002	1	M	60	After	Endoscopy	2	No	Survival
Nakaya et al[20], 2002	1	M	53	After	Endoscopy	56	No	Survival
Tonouchi et al[21], 2001	1	M	62	After	NA	5	No	Survival
Yamashita et al[22], 2001	1	M	59	After	Endoscopy	2	No	Survival

NA: Not available; PET: Positron emission tomography; CT: Computed tomography; F: Female; M: Male.

The mechanism of DM is not clear and is generally believed to be related to heredity and viral infection. However, a strong correlation with a variety of malignant tumors has been reported, including ovary, lung, pancreas, stomach, colorectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma[23-26]. DM is generally a chronic disease associated with low mortality. The clinical manifestations of DM include typical rash, such as Gottron macular papule and dark purplish-red rash on the eyelids. Muscle discomfort is also the main manifestation of DM[27,28]. However, when DM is complicated with gastric cancer, it is often associated with tumor metastasis and poor prognosis. A total of 18 patients were analyzed in our study, of which 5 had distant metastasis and 6 died. According to the diagnostic criteria of polymyositis and DM[2,29,30], sensitive laboratory indices such as blood parameters, including autoantibodies and CK, changes in electromyography, and biopsy of diseased muscles are all helpful for the diagnosis of DM.

In this case report, 2 patients manifested typical skin rash. The first patient mainly involved bilateral upper limbs and neck, while the second patient showed rash mainly in the face, neck, and back. Both experienced muscle weakness in the extremities and elevated serum CK. However, no muscle biopsy was performed due to invasiveness.

According to previous studies, the diagnostic sequence of tumors and DM is uncertain. Tumors can be detected earlier or at the same time as DM[10,11]. Differential diagnosis of tumors is important for those diagnosed earlier than DM. The case study[10] involved a 71-year-old Japanese man who developed clinical symptoms such as muscle pain and weak myositis after receiving nivolumab for gastric cancer, so the patient was initially diagnosed with nivolumab-induced myositis. However, based on his serum markers, electromyography, and magnetic resonance imaging, he was eventually diagnosed with paraneoplastic DM. The symptoms were gradually improved after treatment with intravenous corticosteroids, immunoglobulin injection, and tacrolimus. However, 142 d after taking the medicine, he died of rapid deterioration of gastric cancer. The differential diagnosis of paraneoplastic DM or drug-associated myositis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors is essential because it determines the need for immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune diseases and the appropriateness of continuing immunosuppressive therapy for primary cancer.

The diagnosis of tumors in most studies (88.9%) was later than that of DM, and the average time interval between the diagnosis of gastric cancer and DM was 11 mo, which often led to a missed tumor diagnosis. These 2 patients were not treated for a long time, which may have led to tumor progression. Paraneoplastic DM can be regarded as an early manifestation of gastric cancer, and tumor screening can be performed by gastroscopy, CT, and positron emission tomography/CT. Therefore, a high index of clinical suspicion is needed to detect malignancies in patients with DM.

However, the exact mechanism of the association between DM and gastric cancer is unknown. Further analysis of such cases is required to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

CONCLUSION

Although DM associated with gastric cancer is extremely rare, patients with DM require comprehensive screening for malignant tumors if long-term pharmacotherapy or hormone manipulation is ineffective. Patients diagnosed with DM and gastric cancer should be treated for cancer first, which can improve the symptoms of DM and avoid tumor progression.