Pulmonary and extrapulmonary poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas

Cancer ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antongiulio Faggiano ◽  
Jean-Cristophe Sabourin ◽  
Michel Ducreux ◽  
Jean Lumbroso ◽  
Pierre Duvillard ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4148-4148
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Chan ◽  
Nitya Prabhakar Raj ◽  
Rahul Raj Aggarwal ◽  
Susan Calabrese ◽  
April DeMore ◽  
...  

4148 Background: The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy has not been established in extrapulmonary poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (EP-PDNECs). In small cell lung cancer, CPI therapy is approved for use in the first-line and salvage settings. We investigated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab (PEM)-based therapy in biomarker-unselected patients (pts) with EP-PDNECs. PEM alone (Part A, N=14) was inactive (ASCO GI 2019; Abstr#363). We now report the results of Part B (PEM plus chemotherapy). Methods: We conducted an open label, multicenter, phase 2 study of PEM-based therapy in pts with EP-PDNECs, excluding Merkel cell carcinoma and well differentiated grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors (NET), with disease progression on first-line systemic therapy. In Part B of this trial, patients were treated with PEM 200 mg IV every 3 week cycle plus dealers’ choice chemotherapy (chemo): weekly irinotecan (IRI, 125 mg/m2 day 1,8 of every 21 day cycle) or weekly paclitaxel (PAC, 80 mg/m2). After PEM/IRI safety lead-in (N=6), 16 additional pts (total N=22) were enrolled. This was based on a primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1 and a plan to test Ha ORR 31% vs H0 ORR 10% with 80% power at a type I error rate of 0.05. Secondary endpoints include safety, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Serial blood samples and baseline tumor biopsies were required in all pts. Results: Preliminary data from Part B are available. Of 22 pts enrolled, male/female 15/7; median age 57 years (range 34-75); ECOG PS 0/1: 10/12; 6 large cell, 8 small cell, 8 NOS. Primary sites of disease: GI 73%, GYN 5%, unknown 23%. Ki67 index (available for 18 pts) median 68% (range 30 to >95%). Chemo choice: 17 IRI (77%) and 5 PAC (23%). PEM/IRI was safe based on lead-in. Median number of cycles of therapy administered was 3 (range 0-13). Treatment-related Gr 3 or 4 AE occurred in 7 (32%) of 22 pts overall: 4 (18%) had at least one Gr 3 AE attributed to PEM (1 pt each with pain, ALT increase, or nausea; 2 with fatigue); 7 (32%) had at least one Gr 3/4 AE attributed to chemo (2 with fatigue, 2 with neutropenia; 1 each with pain, ALT increase, hyponatremia, diarrhea, nausea, and/or acute kidney injury). No grade 5 AE. ORR was 9%: PR in 2 pts (9%), SD 3 pts (14%), PD 13 pts (60%); 4 pts (18%) unevaluable (off study before first scheduled scan). Median PFS 2 mo. At last follow-up, 5 pts (23%) were alive with 1 pt still on treatment. Median OS 4 mo. Of 21 pts off treatment, 76% off for PD, 10% off for AE, 14% off for withdrawal of consent/other therapy. Conclusions: PEM + chemotherapy was not effective in this pretreated, biomarker-unselected population of EP-PDNECs arising in different organs. Biomarker studies are planned (Parts A/B). Clinical trial information: NCT03136055.


2002 ◽  
Vol 126 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Huang ◽  
Alona Muzitansky ◽  
Eugene J. Mark

Abstract Context.—Primary pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors are traditionally classified into 3 major types: typical carcinoid (TC), atypical carcinoid (AC), and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LC) or small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SC). Confusion arises frequently regarding the malignant nature of TC and the morphologic differentiation between AC and LC or SC. Objective.—To provide clinicopathologic evidence to streamline and clarify the histomorphologic criteria for this group of tumors, emphasizing the prognostic implications. Patients.—To minimize variability in diagnostic criteria and treatment plans, we analyzed a group of patients whose diagnosis and treatment occurred at a single institution. We reviewed 234 cases of primary pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors and thoroughly studied 50 cases of resected tumors from 1986 to 1995. Results.—On the basis of morphologic characteristics and biologic behaviors of the tumors, we agree with many previous investigators that these tumors are all malignant and potentially aggressive. Based on our accumulated data, we have modified Gould criteria and reclassified these tumors into 5 types: (1) well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (otherwise called TC) (14 cases, with less than 1 mitosis per 10 high-power fields [HPF] with or without minimal necrosis); (2) moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (otherwise called low-grade AC) (6 cases, with less than 10 mitoses per 10 HPF and necrosis evident at high magnification); (3) poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (otherwise called high-grade AC) (10 cases, with more than 10 mitoses per 10 HPF and necrosis evident at low-power magnification); (4) undifferentiated LC (5 cases, with more than 30 mitoses per 10 HPF and marked necrosis); and (5) undifferentiated SC (15 cases, with more than 30 mitoses per 10 HPF and marked necrosis). The 5-year survival rates were 93%, 83%, 70%, 60%, and 40% for well, moderately, and poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated large cell and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, respectively. We found nodal metastasis in 28% of TC in this retrospective review, a figure higher than previously recorded. Conclusion.—Using a grading system and terms comparable to those used for many years and used for neuroendocrine tumors elsewhere in the body, we found that classification of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas as well, moderately, poorly differentiated, or undifferentiated provides prognostic information and avoids misleading terms and concepts. This facilitates communication between pathologists and clinicians and thereby improves diagnosis and management of the patient.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 847-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Mertz ◽  
Michelle A. Ojemuyiwa

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rare tumors that can arise anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. They often present in advanced stage and portend a poor prognosis when compared to adenocarcinomas of the same stage. Characterization of these tumors is best accomplished with tissue biopsy, as peripheral tumor markers commonly used in NECs are of little utility. Therapeutic strategies often involve chemotherapeutic regimens that have been used to treat small-cell lung cancer. Recent studies have shown that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression within poorly differentiated NECs is a poor prognostic indicator. However, PD-L1 expression may represent a possible target for immunotherapy drugs, often called checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 inhibitors.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Kuriry ◽  
Abdul Monem Swied

Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the esophagus are very rare, and the majority are high grade (poorly differentiated). They occur most frequently in males in their sixth and seventh decades of life. There have been no concrete data published on clinical features or on prognosis. We report a case of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus in a 66-year-old Saudi female with progressive dysphagia and weight loss. Upper endoscopy revealed an esophageal ulcerated mass.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 2378
Author(s):  
Maria Joao Amaral ◽  
Henrique Alexandrino ◽  
Daniela Meireles ◽  
Rui Caetano Oliveira ◽  
Marco Serodio ◽  
...  

We present a rare case of high-grade functional neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas secreting insulin. Our patient, an 80 years old woman, presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms consistent with hypoglycaemia that regressed with food intake and dextrose administration. Abdominal imaging showed a pancreatic tumour with invasion of the spleen and lymph node metastasis, highly suggestive of an insulinoma as the cause of the hypoglycaemia. The patient underwent left pancreatectomy with splenectomy and atypical gastric resection. The postoperative course of our patient was uneventful, with complete remission of the hypoglycaemic episodes, and the definitive histological examination showed three poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the pancreas.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 363-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Mulvey ◽  
Nitya Prabhakar Raj ◽  
Jennifer A. Chan ◽  
Rahul Raj Aggarwal ◽  
Pelin Cinar ◽  
...  

363 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) efficacy has not been established in extrapulmonary poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (EP-PDNECs). In small cell lung cancer, promising antitumor activity of CPI led to accelerated approval of nivolumab in 8/2018. We investigated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab (PEM)-based therapy in biomarker-unselected EP-PDNECs. Methods: Open label, multicenter, phase 2 study of PEM-based therapy in patients (pts) with EP-PDNECs, excluding Merkel cell carcinoma and well differentiated grade 3 NET, with progression on first-line systemic therapy, ECOG 0-1, and adequate hepatic and renal function. Enrollment via an adaptive Simon’s 2-stage design. Plan for 14 pts treated with PEM alone (Part A Stage 1) 200 mg IV every 3 weeks. If > 2 of 14 pts respond by week 18, then 21 additional pts enroll in Part A Stage 2, corresponding to H0 10% vs. H1 26% response rate (RR) at type I error 0.05 with power 80%. Otherwise study proceeds to Part B: PEM plus chemotherapy (dealer's choice of weekly irinotecan or paclitaxel). Primary endpoint is objective RR (ORR) by RECIST 1.1. Secondary endpoints include safety, overall survival, and progression-free survival (PFS). Serial blood samples and baseline tumor biopsies required in all pts for future biomarker studies. Results: Preliminary data from Part A Stage 1 are available. Of 14 pts enrolled, male/female 9/5; median age 63; 1 large cell, 11 small cell, 2 NOS. Primary site of disease: GI 43%, GU 29%, and other 29%. Median Ki67 80% (available for 9 pts). Best response: CR (1), PR (0), SD (2), PD (10), unevaluable (1; early death from sepsis) for ORR 7%. Median PFS was 58 days. Six (43%) pts went off study for early PD or clinical deterioration before first scheduled scan at 9 weeks. PEM was well tolerated with no grade 3-5 AEs attributed to therapy. At last follow up, 9 (64%) pts were alive with 1 pt still on treatment after 19 cycles. Conclusions: PEM monotherapy was not effective in this pretreated, biomarker-unselected population of EP-PDNECs arising in different organs. Part B (PEM plus chemotherapy) enrollment is ongoing. Biomarker studies are planned (Parts A/B). Clinical trial information: NCT03136055.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Minocha ◽  
Sania Shuja ◽  
Robert Ali ◽  
Emely Eid

Introduction. Rectal large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a poorly differentiated neoplasm that is very rare and belongs within the poorest prognostic subgroup among primary colorectal neoplasms. Here, we describe a case of LCNEC of the rectum, which highlights the aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis associated with this disease.Case Presentation. We report a case of a 63-year-old male who presented to our hospital with a one-month history of lower abdominal pain, constipation, and weight loss. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed a rectal mass as well as metastatic disease of the liver and lung. Flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed a fungating, ulcerated and partially obstructing rectal mass located 6 cm from the anal verge. This mass was biopsied and pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed features consistent with a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.Conclusion. Rectal large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are rare and have a significantly worse prognosis than adenocarcinomas. At diagnosis, a higher stage and metastatic disease are likely to be found. It is important to differentiate large cell, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas from adenocarcinomas of the colon and rectum pathologically because patients may benefit from alternative cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens.


Author(s):  
Roberta Maragliano ◽  
Laura Libera ◽  
Ileana Carnevali ◽  
Valeria Pensotti ◽  
Giovanna De Vecchi ◽  
...  

AbstractPrimary ovarian neuroendocrine neoplasms (Ov-NENs) are infrequent and mainly represented by well-differentiated forms (neuroendocrine tumors — NETs — or carcinoids). Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (Ov-NECs) are exceedingly rare and only few cases have been reported in the literature. A subset of Ov-NECs are admixed with non-neuroendocrine carcinomas, as it occurs in other female genital organs, as well (mostly endometrium and uterine cervix), and may be assimilated to mixed neuroendocrine/non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) described in digestive and extra-digestive sites. Here, we present a case of large cell Ov-NEC admixed with an endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary, arising in the context of ovarian endometriosis, associated with a uterine endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH). We performed targeted next-generation sequencing analysis, along with a comprehensive immunohistochemical study and FISH analysis for TP53 locus, separately on the four morphologically distinct lesions (Ov-NEC, endometrioid carcinoma, endometriosis, and EAH). The results of our study identified molecular alterations of cancer-related genes (PIK3CA, CTNNB1, TP53, RB1, ARID1A, and p16), which were present with an increasing gradient from preneoplastic lesions to malignant proliferations, both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine components. In conclusion, our findings underscored that the two neoplastic components of this Ov-MiNEN share a substantially identical molecular profile and they progress from a preexisting ovarian endometriotic lesion, in a patient with a coexisting preneoplastic proliferation of the endometrium, genotypically and phenotypically related to the ovarian neoplasm. Moreover, this study supports the inclusion of MiNEN in the spectrum ovarian and, possibly, of all gynecological NENs, among which they are currently not classified.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron S. Mansfield ◽  
David S. Hong ◽  
Christine L. Hann ◽  
Anna F. Farago ◽  
Himisha Beltran ◽  
...  

AbstractDelta-like protein 3 (DLL3) is highly expressed in solid tumors, including neuroendocrine carcinomas/neuroendocrine tumors (NEC/NET). Rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T) is a DLL3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate. Patients with NECs and other advanced DLL3-expressing tumors were enrolled in this phase I/II study (NCT02709889). The primary endpoint was safety. Two hundred patients were enrolled: 101 with NEC/NET (large-cell NEC, gastroenteropancreatic NEC, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, and other NEC/NET) and 99 with other solid tumors (melanoma, medullary thyroid cancer [MTC], glioblastoma, and other). The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) was 0.3 mg/kg every 6 weeks (q6w) for two cycles. At the RP2D, grade 3/4 adverse events included anemia (17%), thrombocytopenia (15%), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (8%). Responses were confirmed in 15/145 patients (10%) treated at 0.3 mg/kg, including 9/69 patients (13%) with NEC/NET. Rova-T at 0.3 mg/kg q6w had manageable toxicity, with antitumor activity observed in patients with NEC/NET, melanoma, MTC, and glioblastoma.


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