Description:
<jats:p> e15096 </jats:p><jats:p> Background: Only limited data are available on treatment outcomes in poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. We evaluated retrospectively a complete series of consecutive patients with poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma treated with a regimen containing TCE in a single center. Methods: 50 new consecutively diagnosed patients were treated between 01/2000 and 04/2012 at St. Georg Hospital Cancer Center Leipzig. Dosing: paclitaxel (175-200mg/m² d1), carboplatin (AUC 6 d1) and etoposide (50/100mg d1-10) q3w (Hainsworth et al. JCO 2006, 22, 3548-3554). In cases of response after three cycles patients have been treated until progression or toxicities. Patient initial characteristics: age 61 years (range 23-85); 34 male, 16 female; 8/50 limited disease, 29/50 liver metastases, 13/50 only extra hepatic metastasis; 12/50 hormon active tumors. Histological confirmation, immunhistochemical staining (synaptophysin, chromogranin A) and proliferationsrate were performed in all cases. Resection of primary tumor was performed in 20/50 pts. Median no. of cycles was 4 (range 1-12 courses). CT-Scans of all patients were reviewed according to RECIST to detect maximal response. Results: 7/50 (14%) had CR, 20/50 PR (with a median reduction of the sum of diameters to 49%); 12/50 (24%) had no change; 7/50 PD (14%); 4/50 (8%) were not evaluable for response because of early death (3 sepsis, 1 liver failure). Median progression free survival time was 4.0 months (95% CI 2.9-5.1). The median overall survival time was 14,8 months (95% CI 9,5 -20,3). Major toxicity was myelosuppression. As a consequence paclitaxel dose was reduced to 175 mg/m² in the last 40 pts of this series (80%). Conclusions: TCE treatment is effective and induces tumor control in a substantial subgroup of patients. This analysis confirms the data of Hainsworth et al. and shows in an unselected population nearly the same encouraging results. [Table: see text] </jats:p>