Open Access

Radical treatment for metastasis of HER2‑positive rectal adenocarcinoma to the liver: A case report and literature review

  • Authors:
    • Jiandi Huang
    • Zhiru Li
    • Dongwei He
    • Xin Li
    • Yaping Wang
    • Qingxia Li
    • Dongmiao Wang
    • Xiaoyan Fan
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 24, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15154
  • Article Number: 408
  • Copyright: © Huang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity, including gene amplification and mutation, is uncommon in colorectal cancer (CRC), with an incidence of only ~5%. Targeted HER2 therapy has been shown to be feasible in patients with HER2‑positive CRC after the failure of standard treatments. However, the importance of anti‑HER2 therapy in patients with HER2‑positive CRC is not yet fully reflected in clinical guidelines. The present report describes the case of a 60‑year‑old female patient who presented with abdominal pain and bloody stools and was diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma and liver metastasis. The next‑generation sequencing of biopsy tissue obtained during colonoscopy suggested HER2 mutation/amplification. After two cycles of chemotherapy, the tumor marker levels of the patient continued to increase, indicating poor treatment efficacy. The patient subsequently received six cycles of chemotherapy combined with anti‑HER2 therapy, leading to a reduction in tumor marker levels and gradual shrinkage of the lesions. After this, the colorectal and liver lesions were surgically removed. There is currently no definitive treatment for HER2‑positive CRC. However, the present case highlights a favorable response to anti‑HER2 therapy in a patient with HER2‑positive metastatic CRC, suggesting that this treatment approach may be beneficial for HER2‑positive CRC and warrants further investigation.
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September-2025
Volume 30 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Huang J, Li Z, He D, Li X, Wang Y, Li Q, Wang D and Fan X: Radical treatment for metastasis of HER2‑positive rectal adenocarcinoma to the liver: A case report and literature review. Oncol Lett 30: 408, 2025.
APA
Huang, J., Li, Z., He, D., Li, X., Wang, Y., Li, Q. ... Fan, X. (2025). Radical treatment for metastasis of HER2‑positive rectal adenocarcinoma to the liver: A case report and literature review. Oncology Letters, 30, 408. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15154
MLA
Huang, J., Li, Z., He, D., Li, X., Wang, Y., Li, Q., Wang, D., Fan, X."Radical treatment for metastasis of HER2‑positive rectal adenocarcinoma to the liver: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 30.3 (2025): 408.
Chicago
Huang, J., Li, Z., He, D., Li, X., Wang, Y., Li, Q., Wang, D., Fan, X."Radical treatment for metastasis of HER2‑positive rectal adenocarcinoma to the liver: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 30, no. 3 (2025): 408. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15154