Clinical Features of Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer.

Eun Kyoung Kim, Geun Doo Jang, Cheol Won Suh, Sang We Kim, Sang Do Lee, Woo Seong Kim, Jung Shin Lee, Ho Jung Lee, In Cheol Lee

This study was performed to investigate the clinical features of neuroendocrine lung cancer. We performed a retrospective review of the histopathology and clinical information of 21 patients diagnosed as having neuroendocrine lung cancer between 1995 and 1999. Nineteen cases were male and 2 were female. The median age was 64 years (range: 45~80). Pathologic classification were atypical carcinoid (AC) in 2 cases, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) in 7 cases, and intermediate cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (ICNC) in 12 cases. Nine patients received tumor resection as first line therapy; adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 3 patients. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was given to 1 patient. Six patients received palliative chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen included etoposide cisplatin in 5 cases and vinorelbine+cisplatin in 1 case. The median survival times were 11, 16 and 59 weeks for AC, LCNEC and ICNC, respectively. The estimated 2-year survival rates were AC 0%, LCNEC 22% and ICNC 31%. Surgery may have a positive effect on survival in patients with early stage cansers. Further investigation is required to improve survival in cases of advanced stage cancer.