Neuroendocrine carcinoma of unknown primary: a systematic review of the literature and a comparative study with other neuroendocrine tumors
Loading...
Date
Authors
Stoyianni, A.
Pentheroudakis, G.
Pavlidis, N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Type
Type of the conference item
Journal type
peer-reviewed
Educational material type
Conference Name
Journal name
Cancer Treat Rev
Book name
Book series
Book edition
Alternative title / Subtitle
Description
INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of unknown primary (NCUP) represent a specific subset with relatively favorable prognosis. Data on biology, management and outcome of NCUP patients have not been systematically reviewed neither compared to those of neuroendocrine tumors of known primary. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We systematically reviewed all publications studying neuroendocrine CUP patients and presented a single center retrospective patient series. In addition, we analyzed and specified the similarities and/or differences between NCUP and other neuroendocrine malignancies. RESULTS: Five hundred patients with NCUP constituted a heterogeneous cohort in terms of histology, grade, anatomic site and tumor biology in published series and were managed mostly with platinum-based regimens. Among 294 patients with available outcome data, a median survival of 15.5 months (range 11.6-40) was observed. Comparative analysis with neuroendocrine solid tumors (NET) revealed that poorly-differentiated NCUP share an aggressive natural history and a dismal prognosis similar to high grade pulmonary and extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas (Large Cell Neuroendocrine bronchial Carcinomas, LCNEC and poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic tumors, GEP-NET). Well differentiated NCUP reveal a more indolent course with a survival range resembling that of typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoids, well differentiated gastrointestinal NETs and limited small cell lung carcinomas. CONCLUSION: No evidence for distinct biology or outcome of NCUP patients emerged when histological grade was matched for known primary NETs. The high heterogeneity of the NCUP subgroup limits the potential for identification of reliable prognosticators and hinders development of novel targeted therapies.
Description
Keywords
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/*mortality/*pathology/therapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Disease-Free Survival, Female, Humans, Male, Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology, Neoplasm Staging, Neoplasms, Unknown Primary/*mortality/*pathology/therapy, Prognosis, Risk Assessment, Survival Analysis, Treatment Outcome
Subject classification
Citation
Link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21481536
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0305737211000429/1-s2.0-S0305737211000429-main.pdf?_tid=31d024ffe75bd670e4a4a883cda09eea&acdnat=1333955164_0d054e2475f3e0a941d82f13bbdefc95
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0305737211000429/1-s2.0-S0305737211000429-main.pdf?_tid=31d024ffe75bd670e4a4a883cda09eea&acdnat=1333955164_0d054e2475f3e0a941d82f13bbdefc95
Language
en
Publishing department/division
Advisor name
Examining committee
General Description / Additional Comments
Institution and School/Department of submitter
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Επιστημών Υγείας. Τμήμα Ιατρικής