title: Pulmonary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: From Epidemiology to Therapy.
abstract: Lung neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous subtype of pulmonary cancers representing approximately 20% of all lung cancers, including small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). The frequency appears to be approximately 3% for LCNEC. Diagnosis of LCNEC requires attention to neuroendocrine features by light microscopy and confirmation by immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers. Both SCLC and pulmonary LCNEC are high-grade and poor-prognosis tumors, with higher incidence in males and smokers and peripheral localization. LCNEC is very rare, and the precise diagnosis on small specimens is very difficult, so we have still too few data to define a standard of treatment for pulmonary LCNECs. Data of literature, most based on retrospective analysis, indicated a poor 5-year overall survival, with a high incidence of recurrence after surgery, even in stage I disease. Primary surgery should be the first option in all operable patients because there is no validate therapeutic approach for LCNEC due to lack of clinical trials in this setting. Neoadjuvant platinum-based regimens remain only an option for potentially resectable tumors. In advanced stages, SCLC-like chemotherapy seems the best option of treatment, with a good response rate but a poor overall survival (from 8 to 16 months in different case series). New agents are under clinical investigation to improve LCNEC patients' outcome. We reviewed all data on treatment options feasible for pulmonary LCNEC, both for localized and extensive disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi A. Lanzara," Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Morena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: Carminia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papaccio
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciardiello
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morgillo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines