Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the endometrium: Disease course, treatment, and outcomes

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the female genital tract: A comprehensive overview

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCNECs) of the female genital tract are rare and aggressive tumors that are characterized by a high rate of recurrence and poor prognosis. They can arise from various sites within the female genital tract, including the cervix, endometrium, ovary, fallopian tube, vagina, and vulva. They are composed of cells with neuroendocrine features, such as the ability to produce and secrete hormones and peptides, and a high mitotic rate. Immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers, such as chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and CD56, can aid in the diagnosis of these tumors. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology, etiology, and risk factors associated with these tumors, as well as their clinical presentation, cellular characteristics, diagnosis, and finally the current treatment options for SCNECs, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, alone or in combination.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the endometrium: a retrospective analysis of data from a single center

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) originating from the endometrium is rare, and there is limited knowledge regarding its diagnosis and optimal management. In this study, we present our experience with 11 patients with endometrial NEC, aiming to provide guidance for clinical practice.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the clinical, pathological, and treatment data of 11 patients with endometrial NEC who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2011 to July 2023. The clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 55.0 (39.0-64.0) years, and the median tumor size was 40.0 (33.0-60.0) mm. Irregular vaginal bleeding was the most common symptom observed in 10 out of 11 patients, while metabolic syndrome occurred in only 2 out of 11 patients. Six out of the 11 patients were diagnosed at an early stage. Among the patients, 6 were diagnosed with endometrial NECs, while the remaining patients had a combination of endometrial NEC and other non-NEC endometrial carcinomas. All patients underwent surgery, except for one who received only chemotherapy due to multiple metastases. After surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 5 patients, chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy was given to 3 patients, and 2 patients did not receive any adjuvant therapy. A total of 10 patients completed the follow-up, with a median follow-up time of 51.0 (14.3-81.0) months. Unfortunately, 2 patients died from the disease.

CONCLUSION

NECs originating from the endometrium might not be affected by metabolic disorders. Preoperative diagnosis of these tumors was challenging. The primary approach for managing endometrial NEC can be multimodal treatment centered around surgery.

Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas: Current Management and Future Perspectives

Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are poorly differentiated and highly aggressive epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms. The most common primary site is the lung, but they may arise in every organ. Approximately 37% of extrapulmonary NECs (EP-NECs) occur in the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tract, followed by the genitourinary (GU) system and gynecological tract. As a result of their rarity, there is scant evidence to guide treatment recommendations, and a multidisciplinary approach is essential for the management of such patients. Platinum-based chemotherapy currently represents the standard of care for EP-NECs of any site, mirroring the management of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), but further approaches are still under investigation. Indeed, ongoing trials evaluating targeted therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and radionuclide therapy could provide potentially breakthrough therapeutic options. Given the relative dearth of evidence-based literature on these orphan diseases, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the pathology and current treatment options, as well as to shed light on the most pressing unmet needs in the field.

Gene polymorphism and prediction of toxicity to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with gynecologic cancer

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at various loci and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy (PPCT) remains unexplored. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between SNPs at several loci (e.g., GSTP1 rs1695, MTHFR rs1801133, XPC rs2228001, TP53 rs1042522, and ERCC1 rs3212986) and ADRs in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving PPCT. A total of 244 patients with gynecologic cancer who received first-line PPCT were included in this retrospective study. Blood fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect genotypes. Logistic regression, Pearson's Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used to explore the correlations between these SNPs and the occurrence of ADRs. The logistic regression results showed that different genotypes of the five genes had no statistical significance in the overall grade greater than or equal to 3 ADRs. The results of Pearson's Chi-square test showed the same results. On specific adverse reactions, we found that the rs1042522 GG genotype significantly increased the risk of grade greater than or equal to 3 leucopenia compared with the CG and the CC genotypes (p = 0.002). The rs1695 AG genotype showed higher correlation for grade greater than or equal to 3 neutropenia (p = 0.020). The rs2228001 CC genotype also had a higher risk for grade greater than or equal to 3 neutropenia (p = 0.003). This study found that whereas the overall grade greater than or equal to 3 adverse reactions in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving PPCT were not associated with SNPs, specific SNPs (rs1042522 GG, rs1695 AG, and rs2228001 CC) were linked to higher risks of leucopenia and neutropenia, indicating their potential as predictors of hematotoxicity in PPCT-treated patients with gynecologic cancer.

Role of radiotherapy in the management of rare gynaecological cancers

There are a large number of gynaecological cancers with rare histologies, for which the available data are limited and usually retrospective. Because of their rarity and poor prognosis, the management of these cancers must be centralized in expert centres, for both histological diagnosis and treatment. With the exception of sarcomas, most endometrial or cervical cancers with rare histologies respond to the same radiation treatment modalities than cancers with more common histologies, although there are some specificities regarding treatments such as neuroendocrine carcinomas (chemotherapy with platinum and etoposide, major role of surgery). For localized or locally advanced ovarian cancer, external beam radiotherapy has a role in the management of hypercalcaemic small cell carcinoma of the ovary. This article summarizes the current role of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy in the management of cancers of the uterine cervix, uterine corpus and ovaries, with rare or very rare histologies, and with localized or locally advanced stages.

Beyond Serous: Treatment Options for Rare Endometrial Cancers

OPINION STATEMENT

Rare endometrial cancers are high-grade, aggressive malignancies which are often diagnosed at an advanced stage, and account for disproportionately more deaths than their more common low-grade counterparts. Standard of care includes a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Surgery consists of complete hysterectomy, and more recent evidence supports replacing a full lymphadenectomy with sentinel node mapping. Paclitaxel and carboplatin remain the mainstays of chemotherapy, while current studies incorporating immunotherapy will inform future practice. Whether and how to incorporate radiation remains controversial, and certain histologic subtypes, such as carcinosarcomas, may benefit from radiation more than others. Owing to their relative rarity, it is difficult to conduct clinical trials in this patient population, which has hindered the development of effective therapies for rare malignancies. Molecular profiling has offered insight into the pathogenesis of rare endometrial cancers, providing actionable targets for personalized therapy.

Clinical characteristic and prognostic factors in high-grade endometrial neuroendocrine carcinoma

Aim

The aim of the present study was to summarize the clinical characteristics and analyze the independent prognostic factors in patients with high‐grade endometrial neuroendocrine carcinoma (ENC).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with ENC, endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC), endometrial clear‐cell carcinoma (ECC), endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC), endometrioid carcinoma with mucinous features (EMC) from 1987 to 2016 were screened from the National Cancer Institute database (surveillance, epidemiology, and end results [SEER]). Kaplan–Meier were used to assess survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were done to examine factors affecting survival.

Results

The median survival times of ENC were 11 months, shorter than that of EAC, ECC, ESC, and EMC (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in ages, survival rate, and median survival time between large‐cell ENC (LCENC) and small‐cell ENC (SCENC), which were all belong to ENC. In a multivariable model, the hazard ratio (HR) of death for women with Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I‐II of ENC was 0.37 compared to FIGO stage III‐IV (p < 0.01). The HR of patients who under the surgery was 0.39 compared to the patients who without surgery (p < 0.01), and the HR of patients who received chemotherapy was 0.51 compared to the patients who did not received chemotherapy (p < 0.01). Radiotherapy did not significantly reduce the mortality risk of patients.

Conclusion

ENC was a kind of devastating endometrial cancers with the poorest prognosis. Surgical treatment and chemotherapy were necessary for improving prognosis of ENC. Early diagnosis favored better prognosis. There was no prognostic difference between with and without radiotherapy.

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Gynecologic Tract

Simple Summary

Neuroendocrine refers to the cells that synthesize and secrete messenger chemicals such as neuropeptides and amines. Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are aggressive tumors arising from neuroendocrine cells, with an annual incidence of 6.98/100,000 and a prevalence of 170,000 in the United States. Primary gynecologic NENs constitute ≤2% of female reproductive tumors. NENs of the gynecologic tract are associated with high recurrence rates and dismal prognosis, making their treatment challenging. This article focuses on the updated staging classifications, clinicopathological characteristics, imaging, and management of NENs of the gynecological tract.

Abstract

Gynecological tract neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare, aggressive tumors from endocrine cells derived from the neuroectoderm, neural crest, and endoderm. The primary gynecologic NENs constitute 2% of gynecologic malignancies, and the cervix is the most common site of NEN in the gynecologic tract. The updated WHO classification of gynecologic NEN is based on the Ki-67 index, mitotic index, and tumor characteristics such as necrosis, and brings more uniformity in the terminology of NENs like other disease sites. Imaging plays a crucial role in the staging, triaging, restaging, and surveillance of NENs. The expression of the somatostatin receptors on the surface of neuroendocrine cells forms the basis of increasing evaluation with functional imaging modalities using traditional and new tracers, including ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-Somatostatin Analog-PET/CT. Management of NENs involves a multidisciplinary approach. New targeted therapies could improve the paradigm of care for these rare malignancies. This article focuses on the updated staging classifications, clinicopathological characteristics, imaging, and management of gynecologic NENs of the cervix, ovary, endometrium, vagina, and vulva, emphasizing the relatively common cervical neuroendocrine carcinomas among these entities.

The puzzle of gynecologic neuroendocrine carcinomas: State of the art and future directions

Primary gynecologic neuroendocrine carcinomas (gNECs) are a heterogeneous spectrum of rare and highly aggressive neoplasms, accounting for about 2% of all gynecologic malignancies, which mostly resemble the small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Due to the lack of standardized treatment guidelines, their management poses a noteworthy clinical challenge. Currently, cumulative data retrieved from the management of SCLC and from retrospective studies supports a multimodality strategy, based on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, the prognosis remains poor and recurrences are extremely frequent. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel treatment options and promising molecular targets. Recently, there has been an increasing interest on the potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially in the recurrent setting. However, only scant evidence exists and there is still a long road ahead. A solid collaboration between gynecologists and oncologists worldwide is required to improve the treatment of these puzzling tumors.

Mixed large and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma of the endometrium with high microsatellite instability: A case report and literature review

A 65-year-old, gravida 3, para 2 Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for symptomatic thickening of the endometrial lining. Endocervical and endometrial cytology revealed an adenocarcinoma. The endometrial biopsy specimen was mixed, with a glandular part diagnosed as endometrioid carcinoma and a solid part diagnosed as high-grade mixed large and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (L/SCNEC). She underwent extra-fascial hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, complete pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy (FIGO IIIB, pT3b pN0 M0). She currently has no deleterious germline mutation, but high tumor mutation burden and high microsatellite instability (MSI) were identified. She underwent six cycles of platinum-based frontline chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. Immune checkpoint blockade therapy is a promising second-line therapy for MSI-high solid tumors. However, the MSI or mismatch repair (MMR) status of endometrial L/SCNEC remains unclear in the literature. Universal screening for MSI/MMR status is needed, particularly for a rare and aggressive disease.

INSM1 Is Less Sensitive But More Specific Than Synaptophysin in Gynecologic High-grade Neuroendocrine Carcinomas: An Immunohistochemical Study of 75 Cases With Specificity Test and Literature Review

Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) has emerged as a promising diagnostic marker for high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNECs); however, it is controversial whether INSM1 is more sensitive than conventional markers chromogranin, synaptophysin, and CD56. Here, we investigated immunohistochemical expression of INSM1 in 75 gynecologic HGNECs using full tissue sections (30 small-cell carcinomas [SmCCs], 34 large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas [LCNECs], and 11 mixed SmCC and LCNEC), with specificity analysis in 422 gynecologic non-neuroendocrine tumors (410 in tissue microarrays and 12 full sections) and comparison with conventional neuroendocrine markers for their sensitivity and specificity. Positive INSM1 staining was seen in 69 (92%) HGNECs, whereas chromogranin, synaptophysin, and CD56 staining was seen in 61 (81%), 72 (96%), and 44 (69%) tumors, respectively (INSM1 vs. chromogranin, P=0.09; INSM1 vs. synaptophysin, P=0.4942; and INSM1 vs. CD56, P<0.001). The mean percentage of INSM1-positive tumor cells was 54% (median: 60%, range: 0% to 100%), similar to chromogranin (58%, P=0.2903) and higher than CD56 (30%, P=0.00001) but significantly lower than synaptophysin (89%, P<0.00001). INSM1 showed no staining difference among SmCCs, LCNECs, and mixed SmCC-LCNECs. Among the 422 non-neuroendocrine tumors, positive staining was seen in 5% tumors for INSM1, 18% for chromogranin, 19% for synaptophysin, and 25% for CD56. Our study indicates that INSM1 is a highly specific marker (95% specificity) for gynecologic HGNECs with high sensitivity (92%), but it is less sensitive than synaptophysin (96% sensitivity). INSM1 is more specific than chromogranin, synaptophysin, and CD56 for gynecologic HGNECs. Our literature review reveals that INSM1 has consistently (the same antibody clone A8 used for all reported studies) shown higher or similar sensitivity to chromogranin (for all 3 chromogranin antibody clones LK2H10, DAK-A3, DAKO polyclonal); however, whether INSM1 is more or less sensitive than synaptophysin or CD56 for HGNECs is highly dependent on the antibody clones used for synaptophysin (clones MRQ-40 and SNP88 showing higher sensitivity than clones 27G12 and DAK-SYNAP) or CD56 (clones CD564, MRQ-42, and MRQ-54 showing higher sensitivity than clones 123C3D5, 1B6, and Leu243).