title: Activity of a three-drug combination including cisplatin (CLOVER regimen) for poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No standard treatment has been established for poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (PDNEC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to the combination of three drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 21 PDNEC patients treated from 2008 to 2013 in two Institutions. Five patients were initially treated with epirubicin, fluorouracil and temozolomide. Because of toxicity, the regimen was modified into cisplatin, capecitabine and dacarbazine (scheme B-CLOVER regimen).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary tumor site was: pancreas 7 (33%), lung 5 (24%), colon-rectum 5 (24%), unknown 3 (14%) and stomach 1 (5%). The response rate was 24% (0 complete response, 24% partial responses, 38% stable disease, 9% progression and 19% unassessable). The global overall survival (OS) is 13 months (range=1-29) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 6 months (range=1-11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination chemotherapy of cisplatinum, capecitabine and dacarbazine is feasible and should be considered as an option for PDNEC.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Oncologia, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy emilio.bajetta@policlinicodimonza.it.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bajetta
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Oncologia, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biondani
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pusceddu
authors.affiliation: Ospedale della Misericordia, Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Oncologia, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Clinica San Gaudenzio, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: PDNEC; Poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma; chemotherapy