[Lung neuroendocrine large-cell carcinoma in young women - An unusual presentation].
BACKGROUND
Lung neuroendocrine large-cell carcinoma (LNELCC) is a rare tumour with a poor prognosis. There are very few guidelines for LNELCC treatment but a better knowledge of its biology could improve the treatment and prognosis of this malignancy.


METHODS
We present the cases of 2 patients who presented initially with early stage carcinoid tumours treated with surgery. Both patients had further new neuroendocrine disease diagnosed because of intermittent carcinoid syndrome, predominantly occurring at the same time as menstruation. They were then diagnosed with metastatic LNELCC. They were treated with first-line cisplatin-etoposide and second-line octreotide based on the protocol used for treatment of gastro-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours. They both had a good prognosis with no disease progression to date.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical characteristics of these cases raise several questions about the pathophysiology of LNELCC and may suggest potential new treatment options. The unusual clinical presentation and good prognosis may be explained either by the second-line treatment choice or by potential molecular or hormonal biomarkers. There is a need to investigate these potential biomarkers further since they could be new therapeutic targets.
Service d'oncologie multidisciplinaire et innovations thérapeutiques, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France.
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A
Proux
Service d'oncologie multidisciplinaire et innovations thérapeutiques, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France.
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L
Greillier
Service d'oncologie multidisciplinaire et innovations thérapeutiques, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France.
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F
Barlesi
Service d'oncologie multidisciplinaire et innovations thérapeutiques, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France. Electronic address: pascale.tomasini@ap-hm.fr.
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Tomasini
D000328:Adult; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Biomarkers; Biomarqueurs; Cancer neuroendocrine pulmonaire; Carcinoid neoplasms; Hormone receptors; Lung neuroendocrine carcinoma; Octreotide; Octréotide; Récepteurs hormonaux; Tumeur carcinoïde pulmonaire