Characteristics of Patients with Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

• Published in: Turkish Thoracic Journal 2020-05, Vol.21 (3), p.150-155
• Main Authors: Çırak, Ali Kadri, Ceylan, Kenan Can, Varol, Yelda, Karadeniz, Gülistan, Aydoğdu, Zekiye, Acar, Arkın, Balcı, Günseli, Kömürcüoğlu, Berna, Mertoğlu, Aydan, Öndeş, Zeynep, Tekgül, Serpil, Vayısoğlu, Görkem, Yalnız, Enver
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsy; Lung cancer; Original; Tumors
• ISSN: 2149-2530; 2148-7197; 2149-2530; 2979-9139
• DOI: 10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2019.180166

Neuroendocrine tumors of the lungs are a clearly different group of tumors with definite ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and molecular features. We reported and analyzed the incidence, clinicopathological features, surgery rates, responses to first-line therapy, and survival outcomes of this rare condition according to our lung cancer patient database. We retrospectively collected the data of 62 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of lung (LCNEC) between January 2010 and January 2016. The patients were predominantly (95%) men (male:female=59:3) with their average age being 60.3±8.6 years. Diagnosis was made by the fine-needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) in 7 patients, bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsy in 13, and surgery in 42. Nearly 43.5% of the patients presented with the tumor in the right upper lobe. Additionally, tumors of 46.8% patients could be observed in peripheral locations. Sixteen patients presented with stage 1, 17 with stage 2, 15 with stage 3, and 14 with stage 4. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 29 months (SE: 12.2) (95% CI, 5.2-52.8 months). Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly better in patients with low N, M0, early stage, p63 positive, and TTF-1 positive across the entire cohort. Overall survival (OS) was significantly better in patients with comparatively lower N, M0, low stage, and peripheral location. This study demonstrated a single-center experience with clinicopathologic factors and survival outcomes of LCNEC patients.