Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a high-grade variant of squamous cell carcinoma usually localized in the aerodigestive tract, with a poor prognosis. Surgical resection is generally recommended, even if no standard treatment has been established yet. Case Report: Here, we report the case history of a patient diagnosed with BSCC at the esophagogastric junction who was successfully treated with chemotherapy alone, leading to a durable complete response. Conclusions: The presented case illustrates the diagnostic challenges associated with BSCC of the esophagus and reports an unexpected chemosensitivity of this histotype to the combination of a platinum salt plus 5-fluorouracil, which could represent an optimal treatment strategy in unfit patients.

Keywords:
Basaloid squamous cell cancer, Esophagogastric junction, Esophageal cancer, Chemotherapy
1.
Wain SL, Kier R, Vollmer RT, Bossen EH: Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the tongue, hypopharynx, and larynx: report of 10 cases. Hum Pathol 1986;17:1158-1166.
2.
Li TJ, Zhang YX, Wen J, Cowan DF, Hart J, Xiao SY: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with or without adenoid cystic features. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2004;128:1124-1130.
3.
Sarbia M, Verreet P, Bittinger F, Dutkowsky P, Heep H, Willers R, Gabbert HE: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: diagnosis and prognosis. Cancer 1997;79:1871-1878.
4.
Cho KJ, Jang JJ, Lee SS, Zo JI: Basaloid squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus: a distinct neoplasm with multipotential differentiation. Histopathology 2000;36:331-340.
5.
Chen SB, Weng HR, Wang G, Yang JS, Yang WP, Li H, Liu DT, Chen YP: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2012;138:1165-1171.
6.
Zhang BH, Cheng GY, Xue Q, Gao SG, Sun KL, Wang YG, et al: Clinical outcomes of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a retrospective analysis of 142 cases. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013;14:1889-1894.
7.
Soprani F, Armaroli V, Stefanelli A, Emiliani E, Padovani D, Casolino D: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: report of a early laryngeal cancer. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2011;31:181-185.
8.
Nakamura M, Nishikawa J, Suenaga S, Okamoto T, Okamoto F, Miura O, Sakaida I: A case of EMRC for basaloid squamous carcinoma of the cervical esophagus. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2012;4:373-375.
9.
Tsang WY, Chan JK, Lee KC, Leung AK, Fu YT: Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and so-called adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oesophagus: the same tumour type? Histopathology 1991;19:35-46.
10.
Flejou JF, Odze RD, Montgomery E: Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus; in Bosman FT, Carneiro F, Hruban RH, Theise ND (eds): WHO Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System. Lyon, IARC Press, 2010.
11.
Huang Q, Zhang LH: Distal esophageal carcinomas in Chinese patients vary widely in histopathology, but adenocarcinomas remain rare. Hum Pathol 2012;43:2138-2148.
12.
Arima H, Arima M, Tada T: Microvascular patterns of esophageal micro squamous cell carcinoma on magnifying endoscopy. Dig Endosc 2008;20:6-11.
13.
Tomori A: BSC with characteristic vascular pattern by magnifying endoscopy, report of a case. Stomach Intest 2005;403:397-402.
14.
Lordick F, Hölscher AH, Haustermans K, Wittekind C: Multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2013;398:177-187.
15.
Stahl M, Mariette C, Haustermans K, Cervantes A, Arnold D; on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group: Oesophageal cancer: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013;24(suppl 6):vi51-vi56.
16.
Conroy T, Yataghène Y, Etienne PL, Michel P, Senellart H, Raoul JL, Mineur L, Rives M, Mirabel X, Lamezec B, Rio E, Le Prisé E, Peiffert D, Adenis A: Phase II randomised trial of chemoradiotherapy with FOLFOX4 or cisplatin plus fluorouracil in oesophageal cancer. Br J Cancer 2010;103:1349-1355.
17.
Conroy T, Galais MP, Raoul JL, et al.: Phase III randomized trial of definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with FOLFOX or cisplatin and fluorouracil in esophageal cancer (EC): final results of PRODIGE 5/ACCORD17 trial. J Clin Oncol 2012;30(suppl):239s, abstr LBA4003.
© 2014 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg
2014
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.