Wu YH, Bai LY, Yang HR, Chang KP, Jeng LB. Gamma delta T-cell infusion plus chemotherapy induces long-term remission of gastric cancer after immunochemotherapy failure: A case report. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(6): 117904 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.117904]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Long-Bin Jeng, Chief Professor, Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2 Yude Road, North District, Taichung 404327, Taiwan. 010919@tool.caaumed.org.tw
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
case-report
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Wu YH, Bai LY, Yang HR, Chang KP, Jeng LB. Gamma delta T-cell infusion plus chemotherapy induces long-term remission of gastric cancer after immunochemotherapy failure: A case report. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(6): 117904 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.117904]
Yi-Hua Wu, Li-Yuan Bai, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
Yi-Hua Wu, Horng-Ren Yang, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
Kai-Po Chang, Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
Long-Bin Jeng, Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
Author contributions: Bai LY, Wu YH, and Jeng LB designed the report; Wu YH collected the patient clinical data and drafted the manuscript; Chang KP performed and interpreted the pathological examinations; Yang HR and Jeng LB performed the surgical treatment; Bai LY and Jeng LB reviewed and revised the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The use of AI tools (such as Grammarly) is to enhance readability and optimize language expression within a certain scope. These AI tools do not participate in the case presentation, result interpretation, or the generation of any images included in the manuscript. The author is fully responsible for the content and integrity of the work. The scientific content of this manuscript, including cases, laboratory data analysis, and the interpretation of results and images, was entirely developed and written by the author.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Long-Bin Jeng, Chief Professor, Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2 Yude Road, North District, Taichung 404327, Taiwan. 010919@tool.caaumed.org.tw
Received: January 16, 2026 Revised: February 13, 2026 Accepted: March 11, 2026 Published online: June 15, 2026 Processing time: 167 Days and 17.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pathologic complete response is rarely achieved in metastatic gastric cancer, particularly after progression on standard systemic therapy. Gamma delta (γδ) T cells recognize tumor cells in a major histocompatibility complex-independent manner and may enhance the antitumor effects of complement chemotherapy.
CASE SUMMARY
A 58-year-old man with gastric adenocarcinoma was found to have peritoneal metastases at the time of surgery and underwent palliative subtotal gastrectomy. He received first-line capecitabine/oxaliplatin plus nivolumab for approximately 6 months but subsequently developed new hepatic metastasis and progressive lymphadenopathy. Second-line therapy with ramucirumab plus paclitaxel was discontinued after two cycles because of peripheral neuropathy. The patient was then treated with ramucirumab plus trifluridine/tipiracil combined with autologous γδ T-cell infusions for seven cycles. After 4 months of treatment, contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated disappearance of the hepatic lesion, resolution of peritoneal metastases, and marked regression of lymphadenopathy. Liver wedge resection confirmed the absence of viable tumor cells. The patient has remained recurrence-free for more than 24 months following completion of therapy.
CONCLUSION
The combination of chemotherapy and autologous γδ T-cell infusion may achieve durable remission in selected patients with refractory metastatic gastric cancer.
Core Tip: Long-term survival after progression on immunochemotherapy is uncommon in metastatic gastric cancer. We report a patient with stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma who achieved radiologic and pathologic complete response after the addition of autologous gamma delta (γδ) T-cell infusions to ramucirumab and trifluridine/tipiracil. Because γδ T cells recognize stressed tumor cells independent of the major histocompatibility complex, they may retain antitumor activity even when immune checkpoint blockade fails. This case is hypothesis-generating and supports further investigation of γδ T-cell-based immunotherapy in gastric cancer.
