Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung: a clinicopathologic study of eighteen cases and the efficacy of adjuvant treatment with octreotide.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a new adjuvant protocol with octreotide, alone or in combination with radiotherapy, in radically resected large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung.


METHODS
Between 1990 and 2001, a total of 18 consecutive patients affected by large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung were operated on. Lobectomy and systemic lymphadenectomy were performed in all cases. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed when stage was higher than Ib. Ten patients with positive results of preoperative indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy received octreotide after the operation.


RESULTS
Nine patients (50%) had local recurrences or distant metastases (mean recurrence time 14 months); palliative chemotherapy was given, but all patients died. In 10 cases (55.5%) octreotide alone or in combination with radiotherapy was administered as adjuvant treatment; 9 of these patients (90%) are alive and free of disease ( P = .0007), and the other had liver and brain metastases 21 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results seem to demonstrate the efficacy of octreotide as adjuvant therapy in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung when results of preoperative indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy were positive. Further study are required to assess the utility of octreotide in patients with negative results of indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy.
Filosso
Pier Luigi
PL
Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. pierluigifilosso@tiscalinet.it
Ruffini
Enrico
E
Oliaro
Alberto
A
Rena
Ottavio
O
Casadio
Caterina
C
Mancuso
Maurizio
M
Turello
Davide
D
Cristofori
Riccardo Carlo
RC
Maggi
Giuliano
G
D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015282:Octreotide