Risk factors, therapy and survival outcomes of small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of urinary bladder.
The risk factors, the optimal therapy and prognostic factors contributing to poor outcomes of neuroendocrine urinary bladder carcinoma are not fully elucidated because of its rarity. We reviewed the medical records of neuroendocrine bladder carcinoma patients treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center between 1996 and 2011. Eighteen patients, 55% female with a median age of 77 years, had stage IV disease at diagnosis in 50% of cases. There was a high prevalence of smoking (78%), medical co-morbidities (94%), prior cancer history (22%) and family history of cancer (61%). Treatment modalities included surgery (72%), platinum-based chemotherapy (50%) and/or radiation (22%). Median overall survival was 18.5 months (95% confidence interval, 7-36 months). Patients with Stage II and III cancer who underwent radical surgery with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a median survival of 37 months. In addition to smoking, for the first time, our study indicates that the personal or family history of cancer may increase risk to neuroendocrine bladder cancer. Advanced age and stage at diagnosis, and the presence of multiple co-morbidities contribute to poor overall survival. Patients with early-stage disease are likely to benefit from a combination of radical surgery and platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE, USA.
Vijaya Raj
VR
Bhatt
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE, USA.
Fausto R
FR
Loberiza
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE, USA.
Pavankumar
P
Tandra
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE, USA.
Jairam
J
Krishnamurthy
Department of Internal Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island , Pawtucket, RI, USA.
Rajesh
R
Shrestha
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE, USA.
Jue
J
Wang
chemotherapy; family history; large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of urinary bladder; radical surgery; small cell urinary bladder carcinoma; smoking