Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: An aggressive form of non-small cell lung cancer

Complete response in patient with locally advanced lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma under sintilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy: A case report

Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is an uncommon subtype of lung cancer with bleak prognosis. Its optimal treatment remains undetermined due to its malignancy. A 66-year-old man diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced LCNEC exhibited partial radiographic response to chemo-immunotherapy. He underwent salvage surgery after 4 rounds of docetaxel/nedaplatin (DP) regimen plus sintilimab, a highly selective monoclonal antibody which targets human anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). In addition, the pathologic examination of the excision demonstrated that there were no viable residuary tumor cells. This case indicates that neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy might benefit patients with locally advanced LCNEC, which deserves further investigation.

Prognostic scores in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (PLCNEC) is a rare but aggressive subtype of lung cancer with an incidence of approximately 3 %. Identifying effective prognostic indicators is crucial for guiding treatments. This study examined the relationship between inflammatory markers and PLCNEC patient overall survival (OS) and sought to determine their prognostic significance in PLCNEC.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with PLCNEC between 2007 and 2022 at the oncology center, were retrospectively included. Patients who underwent surgery were pathologically re-staged post-surgery. Potential prognostic parameters (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio [PLR], panimmune inflammatory value, prognostic nutritional index and modified Glasgow prognostic score [mGPS]) were calculated at that time of diagnosis.

Results

Sixty patients were included. The median follow-up was 23 months. Thirty-eight patients initially diagnosed with early or locally advanced. The mGPS was identified as a poor prognostic factor that influenced disease free survival (DFS) fourfold (p = 0.03). All patients' median OS was 45 months. Evaluating factors affecting OS in all patients, statistically significant relationships were observed between OS and the prognostic nutritional index (p = 0.001), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.03), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.002), and pan-immunoinflammatory value (p = 0.005). Upon multivariate analysis, the platelet/lymphocyte ratio was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for OS, increasing the mortality risk by 5.4 times (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

mGPS was significantly linked with prognosis in non-metastatic PLCNEC, with patients with higher mGPS exhibiting poorer long-term DFS. This finding contributes to the evolving understanding of PLCNEC. The multivariable predictive model we employed suggests that PLR is an independent predictor of OS at all stages. A lower PLR was correlated with worse overall survival. Thus, PLR can be a readily accessible and cost-effective prognostic factor in PLCNEC patients.

Spontaneous regression of recurrent pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with alteration of PD-L1 expression after surgical resection: A case report

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with a poor prognosis. Spontaneous regression, that is, partial or complete disappearance of a malignancy without medical intervention, is extremely rare in LCNEC. Herein, we present a case of spontaneous complete regression in a 71-year-old male patient with recurrent LCNEC after surgical resection. The patient was diagnosed with stage IB LCNEC and underwent surgical resection. At 1-year follow-up, chest computed tomography revealed a recurrent lesion next to the stump site and enlargement of lymph nodes 4R and 7; recurrent LCNEC was confirmed. The patient declined chemoradiation therapy. One year after recurrence, the patient experienced severe multifocal necrotizing pneumonia and was treated with antibiotics, resulting in a gradual decrease in the size of the recurrent lesion. Five years after the initial diagnosis, positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed no hypermetabolic lesions, indicating the spontaneous complete regression of LCNEC.

BRAF V600E-mutated large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma responding to targeted therapy: a case report and review of the literature

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive high-grade neuroendocrine tumor, commonly arising in the lung or in the gastrointestinal tract, with a frequent proportion of unknown primary origin (20%). In the metastatic setting, platinum-based or fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapeutic regimens are as considered the first-line treatment, despite the limited duration of response. To date, the prognosis of advanced high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma remains poor, suggesting the need to explore new treatment strategies in this orphan tumor. The evolving molecular landscape of LCNEC, not yet been completely defined, could explain the heterogeneous response to different chemotherapeutic regimens and suggest that treatment strategy could be driven by molecular features. v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) mutations, well described in melanoma, thyroid cancer, colon cancer and lung adenocarcinoma, account for approximately 2% of cases in lung LCNEC. Here, we describe the case of a patient with a BRAF V600E-mutated LCNEC of unknown primary origin who partially responded to BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors after standard treatment. Additionally, BRAF V600E circulating tumor DNA was used to monitor disease response. Thereafter, we reviewed the available literature about the role of targeted therapy in high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms to provide insight for future research to identify patients with driver oncogenic mutations, who can potentially benefit from target therapy.

Combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (C-LCNEC) has a poor prognosis and there is no consensus about the treatment regimen for both LCNEC and C-LCNEC patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 47-year-old female who received surgical resection. The postoperative histology and staging of the tumor suggested C-LCNEC with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and T2aN0M0 stage IB. Next-generation sequencing test showed KIF5B/RET fusion mutation without EGFR, ALK, RB1, and TP53 alterations. Adjuvant chemotherapy with 4-cycle docetaxel plus carboplatin was given and brain metastasis occurred after 10 months.

CONCLUSIONS

C-LCNEC with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is rare and highly aggressive cancer. Surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy with SCLC regimen may improve the disease-free survival and overall survival. The accumulation of similar cases will clarify the profile and management of the disease.

Risk factors and prognostic factors for pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with brain metastasis

BACKGROUND

As the studies regarding the brain metastasis (BM) of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are insufficient, the present research aims to describe the risk factors and prognostic factors that are related to cancer-specific survival (CSS) for LCNEC patients with BM.

METHODS

The data of LCNEC patients between January 2010 and October 2018 were obtained from the SEER database. Binary logistic regression analyses were utilized to screen the possible risk factors related to BM. Prognostic factors for LCNEC patients with BM were indentified by Cox regression analyses. Moreover, a nomogram was established to predict the 6-, 12-, and 18-month CSS rates. The concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were utilized to assess the discrimination and reliability of the model. Clinical decision curves (DCAs) were used to evaluate the clinical benefits and utility of our model.

RESULTS

Totally, 1875 patients were enrolled, with 294 (15.7%) of them having BM at diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that patients with age < 65 (odds ratio, OR = 1.564) and N2 staging (OR = 1.775) had a greater chance of developing BM. Age (≥ 65 vs. < 65: hazard ratio, HR = 1.409), T staging (T1 vs. T0: HR = 4.580; T2 vs. T0: HR = 6.008; T3 vs. T0: HR = 7.065; T4 vs. T0: HR = 6.821), N staging (N2 vs. N0: HR = 1.592; N3 vs. N0: HR = 1.654), liver metastasis (HR = 1.410), primary site surgery (HR = 0.581) and chemotherapy (HR = 0.452) were independent prognostic factors for LCNEC patients with BM. A nomogram prediction model was constructed by incorporating these factors. Using the C-index, calibration curves, ROC curves, and DCAs, we found that the clinical prediction model performed well.

CONCLUSION

We described the risk factors and prognostic factors that were associated with CSS for LCNEC patients with BM. The related nomogram was established and validated to help clinicians formulate more rational and effective treatment strategies.

Large-cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung with Carcinoid Syndrome: A Case Report

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for refractory diarrhea with a poor antidiarrheal effect. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed a 24×22-mm mass in the left upper lobe of lung and multiple masses in the liver. Urine 5-Hydroxy indol acetic acid was markedly elevated. A liver biopsy revealed large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with serotonin production, suggestive of a lung origin, and a lung biopsy revealed combined large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, we made a definitive diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome caused by large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. Although chemotherapy was performed after diagnosis, the patient died 50 days postadmission.

Restricted Ketogenic Diet Therapy for Primary Lung Cancer With Metastasis to the Brain: A Case Report

A high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet was administered as a complementary and alternative therapy to a 54-year-old man suffering from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastasis. Three months after the cessation of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a ketogenic diet (KD) was initiated. This approach was an attempt to stabilize the disease progression after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Computed tomography following radiation and chemotherapy showed a reduction in the right frontal lobe lesion from 5.5 cm × 6.2 cm to 4 cm × 2.7 cm, while the mass in the upper-right lung lobe reduced from 6.0 cm × 3.0 cm to 2.0 × 1.8 cm. Two years after KD initiation and without any other therapeutic intervention, the right frontal lobe lesion calcified and decreased in size to 1.9 cm × 1.0 cm, while the size of the lung mass further decreased to 1.7 cm × 1.0 cm. The size of the brain and lung lesion remained stable after nine years of KD therapy. However, dyslipidemia developed after this time which led to the discontinuation of the diet. No tumor relapse or health issues occurred for two years after the discontinuation of the diet. This case report indicates that the inclusion of ketogenic metabolic therapy following radiation and chemotherapy is associated with better clinical and survival outcomes for our patient with metastatic NSCLC.

Role of surgery in high-grade neuroendocrine tumors of the lung

Background

This study aims to evaluate the surgical results for high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas and to identify factors that influence prognosis.

Methods

Between January 2009 and December 2017, a total of 71 patients (58 males, 13 females; mean age: 62±9.6 years; range, 38 to 78 years) with a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival and five-year overall survival rates were evaluated.

Results

The mean overall survival was 60.7±6.9 months with a five-year survival rate of 44.3%. The mean overall survival and five-year overall survival rates according to disease stage were as follows: Stage 1, 67±10.8 months (46%); Stage 2, 61.4±10.8 months (45%); and Stage 3, 33.2±8.6 months (32%) (p=0.02). The mean overall survival and five-year overall survival rate according to histological types were as follows: in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, 59.4±9.2 months (45%); in small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, 68.6±12.2 months (43%); and in combined-type neuroendocrine carcinoma, 40.9±10.1 months (35%) (p=0.34).

Conclusion

Thoracic surgeons should be very selective in performing pulmonary resection in patients with Stage 3 high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas and combined cell subtype tumors.

Targeting ALK in Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lung

Background

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements are known oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Few case reports described the occurrence of such rearrangements in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) of the lung without information on clinical responses to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in these cases. Currently, neuroendocrine tumors of the lungs are not screened for ALK rearrangements.

Methods

To illustrate the clinical impact of molecular characterization in LCNECs, we report the disease course in three patients with ALK-rearranged metastatic LCNEC from our clinical routine, as well as their treatment response to ALK TKIs (index cases). To gain insight into the prevalence of ALK rearrangements in neuroendocrine tumors of the lung, we analyzed a retrospective cohort of 436 tumor biopsies including LCNEC (n = 61), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (n = 206), typical (n = 91) and atypical (n = 69) carcinoids, and mixed histology (n = 9) for the presence of ALK rearrangements using a sequential diagnostic algorithm. ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) was evaluable in 362 cases; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was evaluable in 28 out of the 35 IHC-positive cases, followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) that was available in 12 cases.

Results

Within the retrospective cohort, ALK IHC was positive in 35 out of 362 (9.7%) evaluable samples. FISH was positive in 3 out of the 28 (10.7%) evaluable cases: 2 with atypical carcinoids and 1 with LCNEC. Additionally, the 3 index cases showed positive ALK IHC, which was confirmed by NGS. Within the retrospective cohort, NGS confirmed the presence of an ALK genomic rearrangement in one FISH-positive atypical carcinoid where material was sufficient for sequencing. Two out of three patients with metastatic ALK-rearranged LCNEC received up-front treatment with the ALK TKI alectinib and showed rapid tumor response at all metastatic sites, including multiple brain metastases.

Conclusions

ALK rearrangements represent rare but targetable oncogenic driver alterations in LCNEC. Contrarily to NSCLC, the detection of ALK rearrangements in neuroendocrine tumors of the lung is challenging, since ALK IHC can lead to false-positive results and therefore needs confirmation by FISH or NGS. Up-front comprehensive molecular profiling with NGS should be performed in metastatic LCNEC in order not to miss actionable genomic alterations.

Different Characteristics and Survival between Surgically Resected Pure and Combined Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. Little is known about the differences between the pure and combined LCNEC subtypes, and thus we conducted this study to provide more comprehensive insight into LCNEC.

METHODS

We reviewed 221 patients with pure LCNEC (P-LCNEC) and 120 patients with combined LCNEC (C-LCNEC) who underwent pulmonary surgery in our hospital to compare their clinical features, driven genes' status (EGFR/ALK/ROS1/KRAS/BRAF), and adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to reduce selection bias.

RESULTS

The P-LCNEC group included a higher proportion of males and smokers than the C-LCNEC group. Furthermore, the C-LCNEC group had higher incidences of visceral pleural invasion (VPI), EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement compared with the P-LCNEC group. Expression of neuroendocrine markers (CD56, CGA, and SYN) and recurrence patterns were not significantly different between the two groups. The P-LCNEC group had better disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with the C-LCNEC group (median DFS: 67.0 vs. 28.1 months, p = 0.021; median OS: 72.0 vs. 45.0 months, p = 0.001), which was further confirmed by the PSM method (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Adjuvant chemotherapy was also an independent factor for DFS and OS. Subgroup analysis found that regardless of whether it was for the entire LCNEC group or the P- and C-LCNEC subtypes, the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) regimens presented with superior survival compared with the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) regimens.

CONCLUSION

P-LCNEC was associated with more favorable prognosis compared with C-LCNEC. SCLC-based adjuvant chemotherapy was more appropriate for LCNEC patients than NSCLC-based regimens, regardless of whether they were the pure or combined LCNEC subtypes. C-LCNEC patients may be the potential beneficiary of targeted therapy.

The Role of Surgery in High-Grade Neuroendocrine Cancer: Indications for Clinical Practice

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) represent a particular type of malignant lung cancers and can be divided into well-differentiated low-grade NET and poorly-differentiated high-grade NET. Typical and atypical carcinoids belong to the first group while large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) and small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) belong to the second one. The aim of this mini-review is to focus on the role of surgical therapy for high grade neuroendocrine tumors. SCLC has the worst prognosis among all lung cancer neoplasms: in fact, the two-year survival rate is about 5% and median survival usually ranges between 15 and 20 months. The surgical treatment of SCLC has thus infrequently been judged as a valuable aspect of the therapeutic approach, the gold standard treatment being a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As LCNEC are rare, there is a lack of extensive literature and randomized clinical trials, therefore the curative approach is still controversial. Current treatment guidelines suggest treating LCNEC by surgical resection in non-metastatic stages and recommend adjuvant chemotherapy according to SCLC protocol. Upfront surgery is suggested in early stages (from I to IIB), a multimodality approach is recommended in locally advanced stages (III) while surgery is not recommended in stage IV LCNEC. The rate of surgical resection is quite low, particularly for SCLC, ranging from 1 to 6% in limited diseases; lobectomy with radical lymphadenectomy is considered the gold standard surgical procedure in the case of limited disease SCLC and resectable LCNEC; pneumonectomy, although reported as an effective tool, should be avoided in the light of local and distant recurrence rates.

DNA-methylation patterns imply a common cellular origin of virus- and UV-associated Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine tumor either induced by integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus into the cell genome or by accumulation of UV-light-associated mutations (VP-MCC and UV-MCC). Whether VP- and UV-MCC have the same or different cellular origins is unclear; with mesenchymal or epidermal origins discussed. DNA-methylation patterns have a proven utility in determining cellular origins of cancers. Therefore, we used this approach to uncover evidence regarding the cell of origin of classical VP- and UV-MCC cell lines, i.e., cell lines with a neuroendocrine growth pattern (n = 9 and n = 4, respectively). Surprisingly, we observed high global similarities in the DNA-methylation of UV- and VP-MCC cell lines. CpGs of lower methylation in VP-MCC cell lines were associated with neuroendocrine marker genes such as SOX2 and INSM1, or linked to binding sites of EZH2 and SUZ12 of the polycomb repressive complex 2, i.e., genes with an impact on carcinogenesis and differentiation of neuroendocrine cancers. Thus, the observed differences appear to be rooted in viral compared to mutation-driven carcinogenesis rather than distinct cells of origin. To test this hypothesis, we used principal component analysis, to compare DNA-methylation data from different epithelial and non-epithelial neuroendocrine cancers and established a scoring model for epithelial and neuroendocrine characteristics. Subsequently, we applied this scoring model to the DNA-methylation data of the VP- and UV-MCC cell lines, revealing that both clearly scored as epithelial cancers. In summary, our comprehensive analysis of DNA-methylation suggests a common epithelial origin of UV- and VP-MCC cell lines.

Preoperative hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio as a prognostic factor in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

Background

The hemoglobin (Hgb)/red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (HRR) is a simple prognostic marker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but no data are available for pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (PLCNEC). This study aimed to assess the potential prognostic role of preoperative HRR in PLCNEC.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study included patients with PLCNEC who underwent surgery at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2012 to August 2016. The follow-up was censored in August 2020. The participants were grouped as low/high HRR according to their optimal value calculated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Univariable and multivariable Cox analysis were performed to identify the risk factors for overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 80 patients with PLCNEC were included. The optimal cutoff values were 0.969 for HRR. Compared with the high HRR group, the low HRR group had a lower mean Hgb (12.1 vs. 14.1 g/dL, P<0.001), lower mean albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) (1.4 vs. 1.6, P=0.017), and higher median RDW (14.5% vs. 12.9%, P<0.001). The median OS was 30.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.4 to 46.5 months]. Participants in the low HRR group exhibited a poorer OS than those with high HRR (20.3 months, 95% CI: 14.5 to 26.1 months vs. not reached, P<0.001). The multivariable analysis showed that low HRR was significantly associated with poor OS [hazard ratio (HR) =3.16, 95% CI: 1.69 to 5.93, P<0.001].

Conclusions

Low HRR is associated with poor OS in patients with PLCNEC and can be used as an inexpensive prognostic factor in patients undergoing PLCNEC resection.

BRAF V600E-mutated combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma responding to targeted therapy

We present a case of combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), harbouring a BRAF V600E mutation, which significantly benefited from BRAF-targeted therapy. A 57-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for headache and vomiting. A head MRI showed a large tumour in her brain, and a whole-body CT revealed a tumour in the hilum of the right lung and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Both the resected brain tumour and the mediastinal lymph node tissue contained LCNEC. Next-generation sequencing revealed a BRAF V600E mutation, and a combination therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib was initiated. The patient had a good response to treatment. Like non–small cell lung cancer patients, LCNEC patients should undergo multiplex somatic mutation testing.

A Clinical Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Pulmonary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Patients: A Population-Based Study

Purpose

This study was designed to construct and validate a nomogram that was available for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).

Patients and Methods

Using the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we identified patients pathologically diagnosed as LCNEC from 1975 to 2016. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was conducted to assess prognostic factors of CSS. A novel nomogram model was constructed and validated by the concordance index (C-index), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

A total of 624 LCNEC patients were enrolled. Five prognostic factors for CSS were identified and merged to establish nomograms. In the training and validation cohorts, calibration curves displayed the nomogram predictions are in a good agreement with the actual survival. The C-Index of the training and validation cohorts were both higher than 0.8, and the DCA results showed that the nomogram has clinical validity and utility.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram resulted in accurate CSS prognostic prediction for patients with LCNEC.

Comparative Study of Pulmonary Combined Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and Combined Small-Cell Carcinoma in Surgically Resected High-Grade Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lung

Objectives

Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) are both classified as pure and combined subtypes. Due to the low incidence and difficult diagnosis of combined LCNEC (C-LCNEC) and combined SCLC (C-SCLC), few studies have compared their clinical features and prognosis.

Materials and Methods

We compared the clinical features, mutation status of driver genes (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS, and BRAF), and prognosis between C-LCNEC and C-SCLC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied for survival analysis.

Results

We included a total of 116 patients with C-LCNEC and 76 patients with C-SCLC in the present study. There were significant differences in distribution of smoking history, tumor location, pT stage, pN stage, pTNM stage, visceral pleural invasion (VPI), and combined components between C-LCNEC and C-SCLC (P<0.05 for all). C-SCLC was more advanced at diagnosis as compared to C-LCNEC. The incidence of EGFR mutations in C-LCNEC patients was higher than C-SCLC patients (25.7 vs. 5%, P=0.004). We found that tumor size, pN stage, peripheral CEA level, and adjuvant chemotherapy were independently prognostic factors for DFS and OS in C-LCNEC patients, while peripheral NSE level, pT stage, pN stage, VPI and adjuvant chemotherapy were independently associated with DFS and OS for C-SCLC patients (P<0.05 for all). Propensity score matching with adjustment for the confounders confirmed a more favorable DFS (P=0.032) and OS (P=0.019) in patients with C-LCNEC in comparison with C-SCLC patients upon survival analysis.

Conclusions

The mutation landscape of driver genes seemed to act in different way between C-SCLC and C-LCNEC, likely by which result in clinical phenotype difference as well as better outcome in C-LCNEC.

Comprehensive Dissection of Treatment Patterns and Outcome for Patients With Metastatic Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare pulmonary neoplasm with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all patients with metastatic LCNEC in the records of a large German academic center since 2010.

RESULTS

191 patients were identified with a predominance of male (68%) smokers (92%) and a median age of 65 years. The single most important factor associated with outcome was the type of systemic treatment, with a median overall survival (OS) of 26.4 months in case of immune checkpoint inhibitor administration (n=13), 9.0 months for other patients receiving first-line platinum doublets (n=129), and 4.0 months with non-platinum chemotherapies (n=17, p<0.01). Other patient characteristics independently associated with longer OS were a lower baseline serum LDH (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, p=0.008) and fewer initial metastatic sites (HR 0.52, p=0.006), while the platinum drug type (cisplatin vs. carboplatin) and cytotoxic partner (etoposide vs. paclitaxel), patients' smoking status and baseline levels of tumor markers (NSE, CYFRA 21-1, CEA) did not matter. 12% (23/191) of patients forewent systemic treatment, mainly due to tumor-related clinical deterioration (n=13), while patient refusal of therapy (n=5) and severe concomitant illness (n=5) were less frequent. The attrition between successive treatment lines was approximately 50% and similar for platinum-based vs. other therapies, but higher in case of a worse initial ECOG status or higher serum LDH (p<0.05). 19% (36/191) of patients had secondary stage IV disease and showed fewer metastatic sites, better ECOG status and longer OS (median 12.6 vs. 8.7 months, p=0.030). Among the 111 deceased patients with palliative systemic treatment and complete follow-up, after exclusion of oligometastatic cases (n=8), administration of local therapies (n=63 or 57%) was associated with a longer OS (HR 0.58, p=0.008), but this association did not persist with multivariable testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Highly active systemic therapies, especially immunotherapy and platinum doublets, are essential for improved outcome in LCNEC and influence OS stronger than clinical disease parameters, laboratory results and other patient characteristics. The attrition between chemotherapy lines is approximately 50%, similar to other NSCLC. Patients with secondary metastatic disease have a more favorable clinical phenotype and longer survival.

Prevalence of TP-53/Rb-1 Co-Mutation in Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Introduction

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and highly aggressive high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasm, which can arise from anywhere in the body. Due to its rarity there is a lacuna in our understanding of LCNEC's molecular biology. In 2016, Rekhtman and colleagues presented one of the largest molecular sequencing series of pulmonary LCNEC. They differentiated genomic profiles of LCNEC into two major subsets: small cell lung cancer (SCLC)-like, characterized by TP53 + RB1 co-mutation/loss, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-like, characterized by the lack of co-altered TP53 + RB1. This finding is of significance because at present LCNEC patients are often treated like SCLC. However, the universal genomic SCLC biomarker of TP53 and RB1 co-mutation was only found in 40% of their cohort. Since then various other scientists have looked into molecular profiling of LCNEC with markedly discordant results. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of publicly available next generation sequencing (NGS) data to evaluate the prevalence of TP53 + RB1 co-mutation in LCNEC.

Method

We conducted a literature search using PubMed. Seven studies including 302 patients with pulmonary LCNEC and four studies including 20 patients with extra-pulmonary LCNEC underwent final analysis.

Results

The prevalence of TP53 + RB1 co-mutation was 36% (109/302) among pulmonary LCNEC patients and 35% (7/20) among the extra-thoracic LCNEC cohort. This finding is in stark contrast to >90% TP53 + RB1 co-mutation in SCLC.

Conclusion

It is now well established that LCNEC is molecularly distinct from SCLC. LCNEC seems to have two molecularly defined sub-cohort based on TP53 + RB1 co-mutation status. Future studies should look into prognostic and predictive implication of TP53 + RB1 co-mutation status in LCNEC. Prospective studies should be designed to characterize molecular subtypes and direct treatment accordingly. We are currently conducting a prospective pilot clinical trial wherein LCNEC patients are treated based on TP53 + RB1 co-mutation status. The study is currently enrolling. "Next Generation Sequencing-Based Stratification of Front Line Treatment of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (PRECISION-NEC).

Systematic Review

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04452292.

Outcomes of Patients with Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in I-IV Stage

Background and Objectives: Large cell neuroendocrine cancer is characterised by poor prognosis. The standard of treatment is still not established. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive factors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and combined LCNEC. Materials and Methods: All patients had confirmed pathology stage I-IV disease recorded between period 2002–2018. Survival curves were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method. Uni- and multivariable analysis was conducted using Cox-regression analysis. Results: A total of 132 patients with LCNEC and combined LCNEC were included. Half of them had clinical stage IIIB/C-IV. Patients were treated with radical (n = 67, including surgery alone; resection with neo-adjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy, or adjuvant radiotherapy; patients treated with radiochemotherapy alone), palliative (n = 41) or symptomatic (n = 24) intention. Seventeen patients were treated with resection margin R1 or R2. Non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) chemotherapy (platinum-vinorelbine; PN schedule) and small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) chemotherapy approaches (platinum/carboplatinum-etoposide; PE/KE schedule) were administered in 20 and in 55 patients, respectively. The median (95% Confidence Interval (CI)) OS and PFS were 17 months (9.0–36.2 months) and 7 months (3.0–15.0 months), respectively. Patients treated with negative resection margin, with lower clinical stage, without lymph node metastasis, and with size of primary tumour ≤4 cm showed significantly better OS and PFS. The main risk factors with an adverse effect on survival were advanced CS and positive resection margin. Conclusions: Patients with LCNEC characterized poor prognosis. Independent prognostic factors influencing PFS were initial clinical stage and resection margin R0 vs. R1-2.

Challenges in Ki-67 assessments in pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas

AIMS

To gather the best available evidence regarding Ki-67% values in large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and determine whether certain cut-off values could serve as a prognostic feature in LCNEC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Aperio ScanScope AT Turbo, eSlide Manager and ImageScope software (Leica Biosystems) were used to measure Ki-67% in 77 resected LCNEC diagnosed by World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria. Cases were stratified into six classes by 10% Ki-67 increments. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, overall (OS) and disease-free survivals (DFS) were compared by AJCC stage, by six Ki-67% classes and with Ki-67% cut-points ≥20% and ≥40%. Tumours were from 0.9 to 11.5 cm and pathological stages 1-3. The system measured Ki-67% positivity using 4072-44 533 tumour nuclei per case (mean 16610 ± 8039). Ki-67% ranged from 1 to 64% (mean = 26%; median = 26%). Only 16 (21%) tumours had Ki-67% ≥40%. OS ranged from 1 to 298 months (median follow-up = 25 months). DFS ranged from 1 to 276 months (median follow-up = 9 months). OS and DFS differed across AJCC stage (overall log-rank P = 0.038 and P = 0.037). However, neither OS nor DFS significantly correlated with Ki-67% when six or two classes were used with either ≥20% Ki-67 or ≥40% Ki-67 as cut-point. A literature review identified 14 reports meeting our inclusion criteria with ≥10 LCNEC. Reported Ki-67% ranged from 2% to 100%. Problems contributing to variability in Ki-67% measurements are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Our findings caution against a blanket use of 20%, 40% or other Ki-67% cut-points for LCNEC diagnosis or prognostication.

Factors associated with treatment receipt and overall survival for patients with locally advanced large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung: A National Cancer Database analysis

PURPOSE

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare pulmonary malignancy with clinicopathologic features of both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Given the paucity of available data regarding LCNEC management, we queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to describe trends in management, identify predictors of treatment receipt, and compare outcomes in patients receiving chemotherapy (ChT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

METHODS

We identified patients with locally advanced (Stage III) LCNEC of the lung treated with definitive ChT or CRT between the years of 2004-2015. Odds ratios were calculated to determine predictors of CRT receipt. Multivariable cox regression was used to determine predictors of overall survival.

RESULTS

Using the above criteria, 5797 patients were identified, 54 % of whom received CRT (n = 3153) while 46 % (n = 2644) received ChT alone. Most patients had T4 (35 %) and N2 (59 %) disease. Median overall survival was 11.9 months (11.3-12.6) in patients receiving ChT compared to 16.1 months (15.4-16.9) in patients receiving CRT (p < 0.0001). Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 50 %, 20 %, and 13 % versus 60 %, 27 %, and 18 %, in patients receiving ChT and CRT, respectively. Older patients and those with higher comorbidity scores were less likely to receive CRT; whereas patients with higher education level, treatment receipt at an academic/research program facility, N2 disease, and later treatment year were more likely to receive CRT. On multivariable analysis, older age, greater comorbidity score, presence of N2 disease, and presence of T4 disease were all associated with decreased OS. CRT receipt was an independent predictor of increased overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Definitive CRT was an independent predictor of increased overall survival in patients with locally advanced LCNEC of the lung. Findings from our study may help guide potential areas of future investigation to help define an ideal treatment approach for LCNEC.

Outcomes of Patients with Clinical Stage I-IIIA Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer Treated with Resection

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis. The rationale of the study was to determine the survival of LCNEC patients in I–IIIA clinical stages who underwent resection. A total of 53 LCNEC (89%) and combined LCNEC (11%) patients in stages I–IIIA who underwent surgery with radical intent between 2002–2018 were included in the current study. Overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) were estimated. Uni- and multivariable analyses were conducted using Cox-regression model. Patients were treated with surgery alone (51%), surgery with radiochemotherapy (4%), with radiotherapy (2%), with adjuvant chemotherapy (41%), or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (2%). The median (95% Confidence Interval (CI)) OS and TTR was 52 months (20.1–102.1 months) and 20 months (7.0–75.6 months), respectively. Patients treated in clinical stage I showed better OS than patients in stages II–IIIA (p = 0.008). Patients with R0 resection margin (negative margin, no tumor at the margin) and without lymph node metastasis had significantly better TTR. In the multivariate analysis, age was an independent factor influencing OS. Recurrence within 1 year was noted in more than half cases of LCNEC. R0 resection margin and N0 status (no lymph node metastasis) were factors improving TTR. Age >64 years was observed as a main independent factor influencing OS.

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

OBJECTIVES

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.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a single-center experience with clinicopathologic factors and survival outcomes of LCNEC patients.

Sublobar resection is associated with decreased survival for patients with early stage large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung

OBJECTIVES

Sublobar resection (SLR) for early non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has been shown to have a survival rate similar to that of lobectomy. Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung, although treated like an NSCLC, has a poor prognosis compared to NSCLC. We sought to determine if outcomes are poor in patients with early stage LCNEC treated with SLR versus lobectomy.

METHODS

We searched for patients with pathological stage I LCNEC ≤3 cm within the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2014. Propensity score matching was used to compare the 5-year overall survival rate of patients having SLR (wedge or segmentectomy) to that of patients having a lobectomy. Patients were matched for age, node sampling, comorbidity score, tumour size, insurance status and other factors. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1011 patients met the inclusion criteria: 263 were treated with SLR (223 wedges and 40 segmentectomies) and 748 patients, with lobectomy. Patients who received SLR were older, had more comorbidities and smaller tumours. On unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients who had SLR had decreased 5-year overall survival compared to those who had a lobectomy (37.9% vs 56.6%, P < 0.001). Propensity score matching (1:1) across 12 demographic and tumour variables yielded 185 patients per group with 34 segmentectomies and 151 wedge resections in the SLR cohort. On Kaplan-Meier analysis of the matched cohort, patients who had SLR had a worse 5-year overall survival rate compared to those who had a lobectomy (41.5% vs 60.3%; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SLR for early stage LCNEC is associated with a lower 5-year overall survival rate compared to lobectomy on unadjusted and propensity matched analyses.

Outcomes for Surgery in Large Cell Lung Neuroendocrine Cancer

INTRODUCTION

There are limited small, single-institution observational studies examining the role of surgery in large cell neuroendocrine cancer (LCNEC). We investigated the outcomes of surgery for stage I to IIIA LCNEC by using the National Cancer Database.

METHODS

Patients with stage I to IIIA LCNEC were identified in the National Cancer Database (2004-2015) and grouped by treatment: definitive chemoradiation versus surgery. Overall survival, by stage, was the primary outcome. Outcomes of surgical patients were also compared with those of patients with SCLC or other non-small cell histotypes.

RESULTS

A total of 6092 patients met the criteria: 96%, 94%, 75%, and 62% of patients received an operation for stage I, II, IIIA, and cN2 disease, respectively. Complete resection was achieved in at least 85% of patients. The 5-year survival rates for patients undergoing an operation for stage I and II LCNEC were 50% and 45%, respectively. Surgical patients with stage IIIA and N2 disease had 36% and 32% 5-year survival rates, respectively. When compared with stereotactic body radiation in stage I disease and chemoradiation in patients with stage II to IIIA disease, surgery was associated with a survival benefit. Patients with LCNEC who underwent an operation generally experienced worse survival by stage than did those with adenocarcinoma but experienced improved survival compared with patients with SCLC. Perioperative chemotherapy was associated with improved survival for pathologic stage II to IIIA disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery is associated with reasonable outcomes for stage I to IIA LCNEC, although survival is generally worse than for adenocarcinoma. Surgery should be offered to medically fit patients with both early and locally advanced LCNEC, with guideline-concordant induction or adjuvant therapy.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Tumor Size >3 cm Negatively Impacts Long-Term Outcomes After R0 Resection

BACKGROUND

Minimal knowledge exists regarding the outcome, prognosis and optimal treatment strategy for patients with pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) due to their rarity. We aimed to identify factors affecting survival and recurrence after resection to inform current treatment strategies.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 72 patients who had undergone a curative resection for LCNEC in 8 centers between 2000 and 2015. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing recurrence, disease-specific survival and overall survival. These included age, gender, previous malignancy, ECOG performance status, symptoms at diagnosis, extent of resection, extent of lymphadenectomy, additional chemo- and/or radiotherapy, tumor location, tumor size, pT, pleural invasion, pN and pStage.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 47 (95%CI 41-79) months; 5-year disease-specific and overall survival rates were 57.6% (95%CI 41.3-70.9) and 47.4% (95%CI 32.3-61.1). There were 22 systemic recurrences and 12 loco-regional recurrences. Tumor size was an independent prognostic factor for systemic recurrence [HR: 1.20 (95%CI 1.01-1.41); p = 0.03] with a threshold value of 3 cm (AUC = 0.71). For tumors ≤3 cm and >3 cm, 5-year freedom from systemic recurrence was 79.2% (95%CI 43.6-93.6) and 38.2% (95%CI 20.6-55.6) (p < 0.001) and 5-year disease-specific survival was 60.7% (95%CI 35.1-78.8) and 54.2% (95%CI 32.6-71.6) (p = 0.31), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of patients with surgically resected LCNEC will develop systemic recurrence after resection. Patients with tumors >3 cm have a significantly higher rate of systemic recurrence suggesting that adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered after complete resection of LCNEC >3 cm, even in the absence of nodal involvement.

Defining the role of adjuvant therapy for early-stage large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare, high-grade neuroendocrine tumor. The mainstay of treatment for early, node-negative disease is surgical resection, and optimal adjuvant treatment strategies are not well defined.

METHODS

Patients with early, node-negative large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma were identified in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2014. Patient, tumor, treatment, and hospital characteristics were examined. Survival differences in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves, and adjusted multivariate Cox models were constructed. A conditional landmark analysis was used to address immortal time bias. T-stage-specific propensity score matching was used to address covariate imbalances between groups.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred seventy patients were identified, of whom 463 (26.2%) received AC. Patients receiving AC were younger, less comorbid, and more likely to have T2 tumors. AC was associated with significantly longer survival, which persisted after adjustment in Cox models, for patients overall (5-year overall survival, 59.2% vs 45.3%; hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.82; P < .0001), T2 tumors (overall survival, 59.8% vs 42.1%; hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.81; P < .0001), and tumors 2 to 3 cm (overall survival, 60.0% vs 42.6%; hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.8; P = .002), but not tumors smaller than 2 cm. Adjuvant chest radiotherapy was not associated with longer survival. Sublobar resection was associated with worse overall survival compared with lobectomy (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.64; P < .0001). Propensity score matching confirmed these findings, but the association with survival for tumors 2 to 3 cm in size was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In this national study of early-stage large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, AC was associated with significantly longer survival for tumors larger than 3 cm, and possibly for tumors 2 to 3 cm. Adjuvant radiation was not associated with prolonged survival.

Lung Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: An Analysis of Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Database

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, clinicopathologic characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes in lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).

Material/Methods

Patients diagnosed with lung LCNEC between 2000 and 2013 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results database. Kaplan–Meier methods and univariate and multivariate analyses were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 2097 patients were identified. The total age-adjusted incidence rate of lung LCNEC was 0.3/100 000, with a rise in incidence over the study period. The 5-year lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) were 20.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that age ≥65 years, male sex, advanced tumor stage, advanced nodal stage, not undergoing surgery. and not undergoing chemotherapy were independent adverse indicators for survival outcomes. After stratification by tumor stage, undergoing surgery was associated with more favorable LCSS and OS compared with those without surgery, regardless of tumor stage.

Conclusions

LCNEC is a rare lung cancer subtype with a dismal prognosis. Primary surgical treatment has significant survival benefits, even for stage IV patients. The optimal treatment strategies for lung LCNEC require further investigation.

Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With Early Large Cell Lung Neuroendocrine Cancer: A National Analysis

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines do not routinely recommend adjuvant therapy for resected stage I large cell lung neuroendocrine cancer (LCNEC). However, data regarding the role of adjuvant therapy in early LCNEC are limited. This National Cancer Database (NCDB) analysis was performed to improve the evidence guiding adjuvant therapy for early LCNEC.

METHODS

Overall survival (OS) of patients with pathologic T1-2a N0 M0 LCNEC who underwent resection in the NCDB from 2003 to 2015 was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses. Patients who died within 30 days of surgery and with more than R0 resection were excluded.

RESULTS

Of 2642 patients meeting study criteria, 481 (18%) received adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB patients was associated with a significant increase in OS (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 0.90). However, there was no significant difference in survival between adjuvant chemotherapy and no adjuvant therapy for stage IA LCNEC (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 1.11). Adjuvant radiotherapy, whether alone or combined with chemotherapy, was not associated with a change in OS. In subgroup analysis, patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy after lobar resection for stage IB LCNEC had a significant survival benefit compared with patients not receiving adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In early-stage LCNEC, adjuvant chemotherapy appears to confer an additional overall survival advantage only in patients with completely resected stage IB LCNEC and not for patients with completely resected stage IA LCNEC.

Comparison of genomic landscapes of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma

Background

The classification of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) has generated considerable debate and has been revised since its recognition as a separate entity. Although it shares clinical features with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and was classified with SCLC in the 2015 World Health Organization classification system, numerous studies have revealed inferior treatment outcomes of LCNEC when it was treated as SCLC. Because the incidence of LCNEC is rare, its mutational landscape has not been comprehensively interrogated.

Methods

We performed capture‐based ultra‐deep targeted sequencing on tumor samples of LCNEC, large cell carcinoma (LCC), and SCLC to elucidate its biological relationship with these subtypes and to identify potentially targetable molecular alterations.

Results

Our data revealed a molecular signature, consisting of RUNX1, ERBB4, BRCA1, and EPHA3, that is distinctively mutated in LCNEC. A majority (60%) of LCNEC patients harbored copy number variations (CNVs). Interestingly, there were no common CNVs shared among the three subtypes: NFкBIA amplification was shared between LCNEC and LCC, while AKT2 amplification was shared between LCNEC and SCLC. Furthermore, genetic alterations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were enriched in all three subtypes.

Conclusion

Despite the histological and/or morphological similarities among LCNEC, LCC, and SCLC, our data revealed a molecular signature, consisting of RUNX1, ERBB4, BRCA1, and EPHA3, that is distinctively mutated in LCNEC, which has the potential to be used as a panel of biomarkers to distinguish LCNEC from a molecular perspective. Furthermore, the molecular distinction among the three subtypes can also be reflected from CNV events.

Clinicopathological characteristics of thyroid transcription factor 1-negative small cell lung cancers

Limitations in obtaining surgically resected or biopsy samples of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors make comprehensive biological analyses difficult. The loss of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) has been associated with the aggressive behavior of non-small cell lung cancer; however, clinicopathological features of TTF-1-negative SCLC remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of TTF-1-negative SCLC. We studied the associations between the expression of TTF-1 and the clinicopathological factors associated with SCLC, including survival and expression of neuroendocrine markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD56), neuroendocrine cell-specific transcription factors (ASCL1, BRN2), a proliferation marker (Ki-67 labeling index), and an oncogene (NF1B). Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of SCLC tumors were subjected to immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses. In a case-control cohort matched for basic clinical factors, expression of ProGRP, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and ASCL1 was significantly decreased in TTF-1-negative SCLC samples. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between Ki-67 labeling index and TTF-1. In a larger serial case cohort, TTF-1-negative SCLC cases were older at diagnosis, but there was no significant difference in the overall survival of patients with TTF-1-negative and TTF-1-positive SCLC. In conclusion, TTF-1-negative SCLC showed decreased neuroendocrine differentiation, and significantly worse clinical outcomes were not observed.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma: results from the European Society for Thoracic Surgeons Lung Neuroendocrine Tumours Retrospective Database

OBJECTIVES

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNC) is a rare tumour characterized by aggressive biological behaviour and poor prognosis. Due to its rarity and the lack of randomized clinical trials, the best treatment is still under debate. Some recent reports indicate that adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) may have a beneficial effect on survival. Our goal was to evaluate this finding using a large series of patients with neuroendocrine tumours obtained from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

METHODS

Data for 400 patients with LCNC operated on in 14 thoracic surgery institutions worldwide between 1992 and 2014 were collected retrospectively. Overall survival was the primary endpoint; we used a multivariable Cox regression model to evaluate which clinical variables may influence patient outcomes; we also focused on the possible prognostic role of adjuvant CT. A propensity score (PS) analysis using the inverse probability of treatment weighting was also carried out.

RESULTS

The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 54.1% and 45%, respectively. With the multivariable model, we found that increasing age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2 and advanced TNM stage were indicators of poor prognosis. Weak evidence of a higher overall survival in patients receiving adjuvant CT (adjusted hazard ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.56-0.96, P  = 0.022) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A trend towards benefit from adjuvant CT has been observed in patients with LCNC. Although surgical procedures remain the mainstay of curative options, combination with other treatments (e.g. neoadjuvant CT/radiotherapy) should be evaluated by future studies.

Classification and Pathology of Lung Cancer

Advancement in the understanding of lung tumor biology enables continued refinement of lung cancer classification, reflected in the recently introduced 2015 World Health Organization classification of lung cancer. In small biopsy or cytology specimens, special emphasis is placed on separating adenocarcinomas from the other lung cancers to effectively select tumors for targeted molecular testing. In resection specimens, adenocarcinomas are further classified based on architectural pattern to delineate tissue types of prognostic significance. Neuroendocrine tumors are divided into typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, small cell carcinoma, and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma based on a combination of features, especially tumor cell proliferation rate.

Distinct clinicopathologic features, genomic characteristics and survival of central and peripheral pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: From different origin cells?

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) represents a rare entity in lung cancer with dismal prognosis. In the present study, we investigated whether there are significant differences between central and peripheral tumors of LCNEC, in terms of clinicopathologic features, genomic profiles, and survival.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 126 cases of LCNEC were included. The tumors with invasion of the segmental and/or lobar bronchus were classified as central LCNEC and those without as peripheral LCNEC. EGFR/BRAF/Kras mutations and ALK/ROS1 translocations were detected. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier plots.

RESULTS

The majority of LCNEC proved to be of the peripheral type (64.3%, 81/126). Central tumors were associated with smoking habit (p = 0.047), higher TNM-stage (p = 0.014) and larger tumor size (p < 0.001). Expression of neuroendocrine markers (CD56, CGA, and SYN) was not significantly different by tumor location but central tumors had higher serum levels of NSE (p = 0.004). Peripheral tumors had a higher incidence of EGFR mutations (18.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.023). ROS1 translocation was detected in 1 patient with peripheral LCNEC. RB1 protein was more frequently expressed in peripheral tumor than central tumor. The median OS was 3.71 years in the entire cohort. Peripheral tumors had better survival compared with central tumors (median OS: 4.04 vs. 1.51 years, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses demonstrated tumor location (hazard ratio [HR], 6.07, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-23.44, p = 0.009), resection status (HR, 6.58, 95% CI, 1.92-22.51, p = 0.003) and EGFR mutational status (HR, 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.75, p = 0.018) were independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

Primary tumor location of LCNEC, divided into central and peripheral type, has distinct clinicopathologic features, genomic characteristics and survival. These differences are likely due to differences in the origin cells and pathogenesis of these tumors.

The role of surgery in high grade neuroendocrine tumours of the lung

High grade lung neuroendocrine tumours are a heterogeneous subtype of pulmonary cancers including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). LCNEC represents approximately 2-3% of lung cancers, whereas SCLC represents 15-20% of lung cancers. Patients with SCLC and LCNEC have a poor prognosis compared with patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LCNEC is treated with primary surgical resection in stages I-II, which is similar to other NSCLCs. Neo-adjuvant treatment in stage III is similar to NSCLC but has not been well studied. LCNEC tumours have an unfavourable prognosis in higher stages but a more favourable prognosis in earlier stages. Surgery plays a minor role in treatment of SCLC because tumours are often locally advanced or have metastasized at the time of presentation and treatment relies on chemo- or chemoradiotherapy. However, patients with limited cancer may demonstrate better disease control upon surgical treatment. The resection rate of limited disease (LD) SCLC is low (1-6%), but 5-year survival rates of 31-42% after surgical resection are encouraging and are significantly higher than the survival rates of comparable patients that did not have surgery. Curing SCLC in stage I is reported in up to 66% of cases. Local treatment with either resection or radiotherapy alone is followed by high rates of locoregional and distant recurrences, so preoperative or adjuvant treatment is recommended. Here, we summarise the similarities and differences of SCLC and LCNEC and highlight the role of surgery in the treatment of SCLC and LCNEC and its effect on local recurrence prevention.

LSD1 modulates the non-canonical integrin β3 signaling pathway in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells

The epigenetic writer lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is aberrantly upregulated in many cancer types and its overexpression correlates with poor survival and tumor progression. In this study, we analysed LSD1 function in non-small cell lung cancer adenocarcinomas. Expression profiling of 182 cases of lung adenocarcinoma proved a significant correlation of LSD1 overexpression with lung adenocarcinoma progression and metastasis. KRAS-mutated lung cancer cell clones were stably silenced for LSD1 expression. RNA-seq and comprehensive pathway analysis revealed, that genes related to a recently described non-canonical integrin β3 pathway, were significantly downregulated by LSD1 silencing. Hence, invasion and self-renewal capabilities were strongly decreased. Notably, this novel defined LSD1/integrin β3 axis, was also detected in human lung adenocarcinoma specimens. Furthermore, the linkage of LSD1 to an altered expression pattern of lung-lineage specific transcription factors and genes, which are involved in alveolar epithelial differentiation, was demonstrated. Thus, our findings point to a LSD1-integrin β3 axis, conferring attributes of invasiveness and tumor progression to lung adenocarcinoma.

Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

BACKGROUND

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung displays morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics common to neuroendocrine tumors and morphologic features of large-cell carcinomas. Because surgical resection of LCNEC in many series has been described with 5-year actuarial survival that is far worse than that reported for other histologic variants of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), considerable debate has emerged as to whether these tumors should be classified and treated as NSCLC or small-cell lung cancer.

METHODS

The initial evaluation and diagnosis, tumor classification, surgical treatment, results of therapy, and long-term prognosis of patients with LCNEC based on our experience are discussed, and a review of the literature is presented.

RESULTS

Patients with LCNEC are more likely to develop recurrent lung cancer and have shorter actuarial survival than patients with other histologic types of NSCLC, even in those with stage I disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate differentiation of LCNEC from other types of NSCLC is important because it identifies those patients at highest risk for developing recurrent disease. Efforts to identify effective adjuvant therapies are needed to improve treatment outcomes with this aggressive type of lung cancer.

A selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometric assessment of biomarker candidates diagnosing large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma by the scaling method using endogenous references

Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) -based semi-quantitation was performed to assess the validity of 46 selected candidate proteins for specifically diagnosing large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma (LCNEC) and differentiating it from other lung cancer subtypes. The scaling method was applied in this study using specific SRM peak areas (AUCs) derived from the endogenous reference protein that normalizes all SRM AUCs obtained for the candidate proteins. In a screening verification study, we found that seven out of the 46 candidate proteins were statistically significant for the LCNEC phenotype, including 4F2hc cell surface antigen heavy chain (4F2hc/CD98) (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0012), retinal dehydrogenase 1 (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0029), apolipoprotein A-I (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0004), β-enolase (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0043), creatine kinase B-type (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0070), and galectin-3-binding protein (p-ANOVA = 0.0080), and phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0012). In addition, we also identified candidate proteins specific to the small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) subtype. These candidates include brain acid soluble protein 1 (p-ANOVA < 0.0001) and γ-enolase (p-ANOVA ≤ 0.0013). This new relative quantitation-based approach utilizing the scaling method can be applied to assess hundreds of protein candidates obtained from discovery proteomic studies as a first step of the verification phase in biomarker development processes.

Mixed Neuroendocrine-Nonneuroendocrine Neoplasms (MiNENs): Unifying the Concept of a Heterogeneous Group of Neoplasms

The wide application of immunohistochemistry to the study of tumors has led to the recognition that epithelial neoplasms composed of both a neuroendocrine and nonneuroendocrine component are not as rare as traditionally believed. It has been recommended that mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine epithelial neoplasms are classified as only those in which either component represents at least 30 % of the lesion but this cutoff has not been universally accepted. Moreover, since their pathogenetic and clinical features are still unclear, mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine epithelial neoplasms are not included as a separate clinicopathological entity in most WHO classifications, although they have been observed in virtually all organs. In the WHO classification of digestive tumors, mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasm is considered a specific type and is defined as mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma, a definition that has not been accepted for other organs. In fact, this term does not adequately convey the morphological and biological heterogeneity of digestive mixed neoplasms and has created some misunderstanding among both pathologists and clinicians. In the present study, we have reviewed the literature on mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine epithelial neoplasms reported in the pituitary, thyroid, nasal cavity, larynx, lung, digestive system, urinary system, male and female genital organs, and skin to give the reader an overview of the most important clinicopathological features and morphological criteria for diagnosing each entity. We also propose to use the term "mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN)" to define and to unify the concept of this heterogeneous group of neoplasms, which show different characteristics mainly depending on the type of neuroendocrine and nonneuroendocrine components.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung: Clinico-Pathologic Features, Treatment, and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) accounts for approximately 3% of lung cancers. Pathologic classification and optimal therapies are debated. We report the clinicopathologic features, treatment and survival of a series of patients with stage IV LCNEC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cases of pathologically-confirmed stage IV LCNEC evaluated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 2006 to 2013 were identified. We collected demographic, treatment, and survival data. Available radiology was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 criteria.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients with stage IV LCNEC were identified. The median age was 64 years, 63% of patients were male, and 88% were smokers. Twenty-three patients (n = 23/49; 47%) had brain metastases, 17 at diagnosis and 6 during the disease course. Seventeen LCNEC patients (35%) had molecular testing, of which 24% had KRAS mutations (n = 4/17). Treatment data for first-line metastatic disease was available on 37 patients: 70% (n = 26) received platinum/etoposide and 30% (n = 11) received other regimens. RECIST was completed on 23 patients with available imaging; objective response rate was 37% (95% confidence interval, 16%-62%) with platinum/etoposide, while those treated with other first-line regimens did not achieve a response. Median overall survival was 10.2 months (95% confidence interval, 8.6-16.4 months) for the entire cohort.

CONCLUSION

Patients with stage IV LCNEC have a high incidence of brain metastases. KRAS mutations are common. Patients with stage IV LCNEC do not respond as well to platinum/etoposide compared with historic data for extensive stage small-cell lung cancer; however, the prognosis is similar. Prospective studies are needed to define optimum therapy for stage IV LCNEC.

Genomic Profiling of Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

PURPOSE

Although large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung shares many clinical characteristics with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), little is known about its molecular features. We analyzed lung LCNECs to identify biologically relevant genomic alterations.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We performed targeted capture sequencing of all the coding exons of 244 cancer-related genes on 78 LCNEC samples [65 surgically resected cases, including 10 LCNECs combined with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) types analyzed separately, and biopsies of 13 advanced cases]. Frequencies of genetic alterations were compared with those of 141 SCLCs (50 surgically resected cases and biopsies of 91 advanced cases).

RESULTS

We found a relatively high prevalence of inactivating mutations in TP53 (71%) and RB1 (26%), but the mutation frequency in RB1 was lower than that in SCLCs (40%, P = 0.039). In addition, genetic alterations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were detected in 12 (15%) of the tumors: PIK3CA 3%, PTEN 4%, AKT2 4%, RICTOR 5%, and mTOR 1%. Other activating alterations were detected in KRAS (6%), FGFR1 (5%), KIT (4%), ERBB2 (4%), HRAS (1%), and EGFR (1%). Five of 10 cases of LCNECs combined with NSCLCs harbored previously reported driver gene alterations, all of which were shared between the two components. The median concordance rate of candidate somatic mutations between the two components was 71% (range, 60%-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

LCNECs have a similar genomic profile to SCLC, including promising therapeutic targets, such as the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and other gene alterations. Sequencing-based molecular profiling is warranted in LCNEC for targeted therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(3); 757-65. ©2016 AACR.

Mutational and gene fusion analyses of primary large cell and large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer

Large cell carcinoma with or without neuroendocrine features (LCNEC and LC, respectively) constitutes 3-9% of non-small cell lung cancer but is poorly characterized at the molecular level. Herein we analyzed 41 LC and 32 LCNEC (including 15 previously reported cases) tumors using massive parallel sequencing for mutations in 26 cancer-related genes and gene fusions in ALK, RET, and ROS1. LC patients were additionally subdivided into three immunohistochemistry groups based on positive expression of TTF-1/Napsin A (adenocarcinoma-like, n = 24; 59%), CK5/P40 (squamous-like, n = 5; 12%), or no marker expression (marker-negative, n = 12; 29%). Most common alterations were TP53 (83%), KRAS (22%), MET (12%) mutations in LCs, and TP53 (88%), STK11 (16%), and PTEN (13%) mutations in LCNECs. In general, LCs showed more oncogene mutations compared to LCNECs. Immunomarker stratification of LC revealed oncogene mutations in 63% of adenocarcinoma-like cases, but only in 17% of marker-negative cases. Moreover, marker-negative LCs were associated with inferior overall survival compared with adenocarcinoma-like tumors (p = 0.007). No ALK, RET or ROS1 fusions were detected in LCs or LCNECs. Together, our molecular analyses support that LC and LCNEC tumors follow different tumorigenic paths and that LC may be stratified into molecular subgroups with potential implications for diagnosis, prognostics, and therapy decisions.

Pulmonary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: From Epidemiology to Therapy

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.