Abstract
BackgroundSecretory carcinoma is a more recently described subtype of salivary gland carcinoma that may pose diagnostic challenges and frequently harbors NTRK fusions that may successfully be targeted by TRK inhibitors in advanced disease.CaseWe present the case of a female patient with secretory carcinoma arising in the base of tongue with persistent disease after debulking surgery and definitive chemoradiation. As an alternative to salvage surgery, which would have resulted in significant impairment of swallowing and speech function, a targeted therapy with the TRK‐inhibitor larotrectinib against an identified ETV6‐NTRK3 fusion product was initiated. Larotrectinib treatment has been well tolerated, resulted in durable complete response and the patient maintains good swallowing and speech function.ConclusionThe presented case underscores the importance of the accurate diagnosis of secretory carcinoma. It further highlights the impact of molecular testing as targeted therapies may play an important role in the management of advanced salivary gland cancers.
Highlights
Secretory carcinomas (SC) of the salivary gland were classified over a decade ago, initially thought to be a more aggressive subtype of acinic cell carcinoma that bore some homology to secretory carcinomas of the breast
Secretory carcinoma is a more recently described subtype of salivary gland carcinoma that may pose diagnostic challenges and frequently harbors NTRK fusions that may successfully be targeted by tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors in advanced disease
Case: We present the case of a female patient with secretory carcinoma arising in the base of tongue with persistent disease after debulking surgery and definitive chemoradiation
Summary
Secretory carcinomas (SC) of the salivary gland were classified over a decade ago, initially thought to be a more aggressive subtype of acinic cell carcinoma that bore some homology to secretory carcinomas of the breast. As an alternative to salvage surgery, which would have resulted in significant impairment of swallowing and speech function, a targeted therapy with the TRK-inhibitor larotrectinib against an identified ETV6-NTRK3 fusion product was initiated.
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