The incidence of symptomatic brain metastases from extra-pulmonary small cell carcinoma: Is there a role for prophylactic cranial irradiation in a clinically relevant population cohort?

Metastatic Rectal Small Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

We report a case of metastatic small cell carcinoma presenting as a rectal mass in an 80-year-old male with a history of change in bowel movement and rectal pain for six months. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis was done, which showed a large rectal mass with many liver metastases. He had a diagnostic colonoscopy, which showed a large obstructing rectal mass, and the biopsy result came back as small cell carcinoma. He underwent palliative diverting colostomy without complications. Initially, there was a plan to treat the patient with systemic chemotherapy with etoposide and carboplatin, but given the acute kidney injury, there was a delay in treatment. After the first cycle of chemotherapy, the patient had severe nausea and vomiting. After a discussion with the patient and his family, he decided on hospice care and passed away in a few weeks.

Small cell carcinoma of cervix: A population-based study evaluating standardized provincial treatment protocols

Objectives

To describe the patient characteristics, patterns of treatment, and outcome of patients with small cell carcinoma of Cervix (SmCC) treated with radical radiotherapy from a provincial cancer registry database.

Methods

Overall 25 patients with SmCC were treated with radical radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2013. Nineteen patients had pure SmCC while 6 had additional neuroendocrine component. Patients were treated with combined chemo-radiotherapy using multi-agent chemotherapy with pelvic or combined pelvic and para-aortic radiotherapy. All patients received brachytherapy. Use of prophylactic cranial irradiation was dependent on physician discretion. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank test.

Results

We report a median overall survival of 53.8 months for our cohort. After a median follow-up of 54 months for surviving patients, the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) at 5-years were 48% and 46.4% respectively. Patients with stage I-IIA disease had superior 5-year PFS (67.3% vs. 11.1%; p = .004) and 5-year OS (62.5% vs. 22.2%; p = .006). Patients with node-negative disease had a trend towards better 5-year PFS (55.7% vs. 19%; p = .07) and OS (61.1% vs. 14.3% at 5-years; p = .06) Distant metastasis was the predominant site of disease progression (n = 12; 48%).

Conclusion

Distant metastasis is the predominant pattern of failure for patients with SmCC treated with radical chemo-radiotherapy. With modern chemo-radiotherapy protocols we can expect a 5 year survival of around 50%. Early stage and node-negative status appear to be favorable prognostic factors with survival rates at 5-year over 60%.

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Multi-agent chemotherapy with radiotherapy results in 50% overall survival at 5-years in small cell carcinoma of cervix

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Distant metastasis remains the predominant site of disease progression

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Stage and node-involvement bears significant association with survival

A clinical analysis of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gynecologic tract: report of 20 cases

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective observational study was to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gynecologic tract (SCNCGT).

METHODS

Twenty patients with SCNCGT were enrolled and their clinic-pathological features were analyzed. All patients were treated at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, China, and were followed up until December 31, 2017.

RESULTS

(1) Patient characteristics: The incidence of SCNCGT was 0.3% (20/6578) of gynecologic cancer in our hospital from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017. The average age of the patients was 42.0 ± 11.8 (23-63 years). Out of 20 patients enrolled, seven (35.0%) had lymph node metastasis. Out of 17 patients treated with complete surgery, 14 (82.4%) had lymph-vascular space invasion. (2) Treatment: Eleven out of the 14 patients with small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNCC) were treated with radical surgery; all the 11 patients received chemotherapy and radiotherapy postoperatively. The remaining three patients received comprehensive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy instead of radical surgery. The six patients who had one or the other type of SCNCGT (involving the ovary, endometrium, or vagina) were all treated with comprehensive surgery. (3) Prognosis: The follow-up time for the study ranged from 8 to 87 months. Three (15.0%) of the 20 patients were diagnosed with distant metastasis at the beginning of the study. Eight (40.0%) patients died as of December 31, 2017, while the other 12 patients were in follow-up. The average survival time was 43.6 months (16-77 months).

CONCLUSION

SCNCGT is a highly malignant tumor characterized by rare morbidity, a propensity for metastasis, and poor prognosis. Comprehensive treatment may be a good approach to prolong survival in some patients.