Disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating diagnosis of ROS1‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare paraneoplastic complication in advanced solid malignancies, with success of treatment and survival dependent on treatment of the underlying malignancy. Best estimates suggest an incidence of 1.6–6.8% in cancer, with risk factors being advanced disease, older age, and adenocarcinoma, especially of lung origin. Few cases, however, have reported on an association between DIC and oncogene‐addicted lung cancers, especially those containing ROS proto‐oncogene 1 (ROS1) mutations, however precedent exists to suggest increased prothrombotic rates in tumors harboring this mutation. We present a young woman with ROS1‐mutant non‐small‐cell lung cancer who presented in DIC and subsequently developed complications of both hemorrhage and thrombosis. Following initiation of targeted treatment, rapid resolution of laboratory coagulation derangement was observed and clinical improvement quickly followed. This event underscores the need for rapid evaluation of lung molecular panels and the dramatic resolution of life‐threatening illness that can occur with institution of appropriate therapy. This case contributes to growing evidence for a possible underlying link between oncogene addicted tumors and abnormalities of coagulation.

Suggested mechanism of action of tumor‐mediated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

INTRODUCTION

DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by consumptive coagulopathy without localization. One manifestation is as decompensated DIC, presenting with both bleeding and thrombosis with a predilection for microvasculature, but in solid malignancies such clinical presentations are often indolent and highly variable, depending on the efficacy of compensatory mechanisms and the intensity of the underlying malignancy.¹, ², ³ Few cases have reported on an association between DIC and oncogene‐addicted lung cancers. In this report, we present a young woman with ROS1‐mutant non‐small‐cell lung cancer who presented in DIC with excellent response to initiation of targeted treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 54‐year‐old female ex‐light‐smoker with no significant comorbidities presented to the emergency department in February 2021 with symptoms of lethargy, headaches, and myalgias for 2 weeks. Outpatient imaging on the day of presentation with a CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis displayed stigmata of diffuse metastatic disease with innumerable pulmonary, intracranial, hepatic, and sclerotic osseous lesions (Figure 1(a)).

FIGURE 1.

(a) Axial view from computed tomography of chest displaying primary lung lesion. (b) Plain film x‐ray of perilesional hematoma with associated haemothorax. (c) Computed tomography axial view of segmental pulmonary emboli

Thorough physical examination was unremarkable. She was febrile on admission and pathology results noted an elevated bilirubin at 25 μmol/L, moderately deranged liver enzymes in a cholestatic pattern, and mildly abnormal coagulation profile with international normalized ratio (INR) 1.6 IU, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) 40.5 s, and prothrombin time (PT) 21.4 s. Platelet count was 258 × 10⁹/L. She was commenced on IV vitamin K in the context of liver dysfunction and lung biopsy confirmed primary lung adenocarcinoma. Shortly after biopsy she developed a moderate perilesional hematoma at the site of biopsy and a small hemothorax (Figure 1(b)), requiring intubation and respiratory support. She improved with supportive measures and was extubated after 24 h. Worsening coagulation derangement was noted, hematology was consulted, and the diagnosis of diffuse intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) was confirmed.

She was commenced on intensive blood product support, eventually comprising 9 units of packed red blood cells, 70 units of cryoprecipitate, and 6 units of fresh frozen plasma, aiming for a fibrinogen level >1.5 g/L, with discussions commenced about emergent administration of chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed at day 9 of her admission. During this time emergency radiation was also administered (12Gy/2#) for both intracranial and pulmonary lesions due to persistent hemoptysis with dosing selected to avoid overlap with her anticipated systemic therapy.

Shortly after her first cycle of chemotherapy, immunohistochemistry (IHC) on her biopsy sample showed strong diffuse staining for ROS proto‐oncogene 1 (ROS1) protein (SP384 antibody). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) testing and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) IHC were negative. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed a ROS1 rearrangement (Figure S1), and the decision was made to switch treatment to entrectinib.

Prior to this, she suffered a further desaturation event with cyanosis, chest pain, and tightness. CT pulmonary angiography confirmed bilateral segmental and subsegmental pulmonary emboli with imaging evidence of right heart strain, and she again required intensive care admission for respiratory support, heparin infusion, and ongoing management of DIC (Figure 1(c)).

Following institutional approval, entrectinib was commenced 23 days after diagnosis. Dramatic laboratory improvement of DIC followed within 3 days with no further blood product requirements (Figures S2 and S3). She was discharged 7 days later.

At subsequent outpatient follow‐up she remained well with no further evidence of DIC and near normalization of liver function. Initial progress imaging after 6 weeks noted a partial response, and she continues on entrectinib with good tolerance.

DISCUSSION

DIC is a rare complication of advanced malignancy, with the best estimation of incidence as 6.8% from one large cohort study. This study noted the diagnosis to be most common in adenocarcinomas of lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, and pancreatic origin.⁴ Multivariate analysis in this cohort also suggested an increased risk for older patients, male gender, advanced malignancies, and presence of necrosis in the tumor specimen.⁴ In contrast to this, Kanaji et al. assessed 716 patients with pathologically proven lung cancer and reported a prevalence of DIC of only 0.7% overall and 1.5% in stage IV disease.⁵

Besides these studies, reports are otherwise limited to isolated cases, and despite the low prevalence suggested by Kanaji et al., non‐small‐cell lung cancers (NSCLC) predominate. Most of these cases pre‐date widespread use of methods to detect molecular fusions and therefore whether an association exists between oncogene driver mutations and DIC is uncertain. The few cases in which an oncogene driver was demonstrated are given in Table 1. Of note, however, ROS1‐rearranged NSCLCs have been associated with a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism. Recent analysis from the METROS trial noted a 3–5‐fold higher incidence of venous thromboembolism in ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC compared to ROS1 wild‐type NSCLCs.⁶

TABLE 1.

Table of reported cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation in lung cancers with driver mutations

Author	Year	Study	Number	Mutation	Stage	Comment
Brosseau et al.15	2018	Case report	1	ROS1	IV	Complete response to crizotinib
Kim et al.16	2018	Case report	1	EGFR	IV
Fujita et al.17	2021	Case report	1	EGFR ALK	IV	L858R Treated successfully with osimertinib
Toyokawa et al.18	2013	Case report	1	ALK	IV
De Giglio et al.19	2017	Case report	1	ALK	IV	Died before treatment institution
Tanaka et al.20	2016	Case report	1	ALK	IV	Rapid response to alectinib

In the setting of malignancy, DIC is posited to result from endothelial disruption compounded by tumor elaboration of procoagulant molecules, such as tissue factor (TF) and cancer procoagulant, driven by pro‐inflammatory cytokines, especially interleukin‐6.⁷, ⁸ This results in platelet aggregation with widespread microvascular thrombosis, consumption of coagulation factors, and generation of fibrin degradation products due to compensatory fibrinolysis (Figure 2). Success of DIC treatment therefore revolves around treatment of the underlying malignant process,¹ confirmed in this case with dramatic resolution of requirements for blood products and no further thrombotic or hemorrhagic events following commencement of entrectinib. This event underscores the importance of rapid evaluation of molecular panels in the setting of newly diagnosed metastatic lung cancer. Initial treatment with carboplatin and pemetrexed was rationalized in the context of a life‐threatening hemorrhagic event, although following ROS1 positivity treatment was swiftly changed due to greater proven efficacy with targeted treatments compared to chemotherapy.⁹

FIGURE 2.

Suggested mechanism of action of tumor‐mediated disseminated intravascular coagulation

ROS1 fusions occur in roughly 1–2% of NSCLC, typically in adenocarcinomas in light or nonsmokers. These are oncogenic drivers with constitutive tyrosine kinase activity activating cell survival and growth signaling pathways, including MAPK/ERK, JAK/STAT, and PI3K/AKT cascades.¹⁰ There is considerable partner gene heterogeneity with the most common ROS1 fusion in NSCLC being CD74‐ROS1, which is also associated with a higher incidence of intracranial metastases.¹¹ ROS1 fusions are druggable targets in NSCLC, with a number of effective therapeutics.¹² Entrectinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of ROS1 fusions, as well as Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) A/B/C fusions and ALK, specifically designed for blood–brain barrier penetrance, making it the preferred choice of treatment in this case.¹³ Reported objective response rates in patients with intracranial disease exceed 70%, with a duration of response over 12 months.¹³ For this patient ongoing follow‐up will be required to monitor closely for toxicities and early signs of disease progression.

In conclusion, this report describes a rare case of widespread de novo metastatic ROS1‐fusion positive lung cancer with an initial presentation of DIC causing numerous complications, which promptly resolved following commencement of targeted therapy. However, despite high initial responses, resistance to targeted treatments is common, and it remains uncertain whether DIC could re‐manifest as a sign of development of resistance.¹⁴

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Supporting information

Supporting Information Figure S1 ROS1 FISH using a breakapart probe showing a dominant pattern of split red and green signals and single green signals in keeping with ROS1 rearrangement

Supporting Information Figure S2 Longitudinal graph of coagulation values, arrow indicating commencement of targeted treatment

Supporting Information Figure S3 Timeline from presentation with complications and treatments

Woodford R, Lu M, Beydoun N, Cooper W, Liu Q, Lynch J, et al. Disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating diagnosis of ROS1‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer: A case report and literature review. Thorac Cancer. 2021;12:2400–2403. 10.1111/1759-7714.14071