Multimodality treatment of primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung.
BACKGROUND
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the lung occurs at a higher frequency in Asian compared with Western patients. Its association with Epstein-Barr virus varies among different ethnic groups.


METHODS
Nine patients with primary LELC of the lung treated at a single institution with a multimodality approach comprised of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are reported. Chemotherapy was comprised of cisplatin, 100 mg/m2, on Day 1 and 5-fluorouracil, 1 g/m2, on Days 2, 3, and 4.


RESULTS
Five male and 4 female patients were treated over a 3-year period. Eight patients were non-smokers. Three patients had operable disease. Two of these patients received adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy and remained free of recurrence at 18 and 20 months, respectively; 1 patient received no adjuvant treatment, and palliative chemotherapy was given for subsequent recurrent disease. Six patients had inoperable disease and received palliative chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy. Five patients had distant metastatic disease at presentation. Of the 7 patients who were evaluable for response to chemotherapy, 71.4% had a partial response and 28.6% had progressive disease. One patient who was evaluable for response to radiotherapy achieved a partial response.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary LELC of the lung has a high rate of systemic metastasis and is highly chemosensitive. A multimodality approach to the management of this disease is recommended.
Chan
A T
AT
Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, USA.
Teo
P M
PM
Lam
K C
KC
Chan
W Y
WY
Chow
J H
JH
Yim
A P
AP
Mok
T S
TS
Kwan
W H
WH
Leung
T W
TW
Johnson
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil