Pathological complete response following neoadjuvant targeted therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in stage IIIA BRAFV600E pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: a case report

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is an extremely rare, highly aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma characterized by a poor prognosis and the absence of an established standard of care. Management strategies are often individualized and heavily rely on multidisciplinary decision-making. We report a case of unresectable PSC, staged as cT2bN2M0 (stage IIIA), harboring a BRAF V600E mutation. The patient was treated with targeted therapy consisting of dabrafenib and trametinib, which resulted in marked tumor reduction and enabled surgical resection. Pathological assessment confirmed a complete response, and treatment-related toxicity was minimal. As of January 5, 2026, there has been no evidence of disease recurrence or metastasis. In conclusion, this case study suggests that targeted therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib may serve as a promising neoadjuvant treatment option for patients with unresectable stage IIIA BRAF V600E PSC.