A pilot study of adjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin for completely resected high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell lung cancer)

Lung Cancer. 2014 Jun;84(3):254-8. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

Background: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are recognized as high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNEC) of the lung. In patients with completely resected HGNEC, platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy may be considered. However, the optimum chemotherapy regimen has not been determined. We conducted a multicenter single-arm phase II trial to evaluate irinotecan and cisplatin in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for HGNEC patients.

Patients and methods: Patients with completely resected stage I-IIIA HGNEC received four cycles of irinotecan (60 mg/m(2), day 1, 8, 15) plus cisplatin (60 mg/m(2), day 1). This regimen was repeated every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the rate of completion of chemotherapy (defined as having undergone three or four cycles), and secondary endpoints were the rate of 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS), rate of 3-year survival and toxicities.

Results: Forty patients were enrolled between September 2007 and April 2010. Patients' characteristics were: median age (range) 65 [45-73] years; male 85%; ECOG-PS 1 60%; LCNEC 57% and SCLC 43%; stage IA/IB/IIB/IIIA 32/35/8/5%; 95% received lobectomy. The rate of completion of chemotherapy was 83% (90%C.I.; 71-90%). The rate of overall survival at 3 years was estimated at 81%, and that of RFS at 3 years was 74%. The rates of overall survival and RFS at 3 years were 86 and 74% among 23 LCNEC patients, and 74 and 76% among 17 SCLC patients, respectively. Nineteen patients (48%) experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, but only five patients (13%) developed febrile neutropenia. Two patients (5%) developed grade 3 diarrhea, and four patients (10%) had grade 3 nausea. No treatment-related deaths were observed in this study. All 40 specimens were also diagnosed as HGNEC by central pathological review.

Conclusions: The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was feasible and possibly efficacious for resected HGNEC.

Keywords: Adjuvant chemotherapy; High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma; Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; Lung cancer; Small cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / adverse effects
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Irinotecan
  • Cisplatin
  • Camptothecin