Long-term disease-free survivor of metastatic large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung treated with amrubicin and irinotecan

Case report

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Authors: Shinichiro Ryuge, Shi-Xu Jiang, Mayuko Wada, Ken Katono, et al.

Published Date July 2009 Volume 2009:3 Pages 213 - 217

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S6423

Shinichiro Ryuge¹, Shi-Xu Jiang², Mayuko Wada¹, Ken Katono¹, Maiko Iwasaki¹, Akira Takakura¹, Sakiko Otani¹, Yuka Kimura¹, Tomoya Fukui¹, Masanori Yokoba¹, Masaru Kubota¹, Masato Katagiri¹, Kazusige Hayakawa³, Noriyuki Masuda¹

¹Department of Respiratory Medicine, ²Department of Pathology, ³Department of Radiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

Abstract: Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a relatively uncommon variant of non-small cell lung cancer. Since the biological characteristics of LCNEC are similar to those of small cell lung cancer, LCNEC is usually treated with chemotherapy regimens used for small cell lung cancer. However, the outcomes are usually dismal. Here, we report a patient with LCNEC (a metastasis to the brain). After whole brain irradiation, he received a combination of amrubicin and irinotecan chemotherapy, and has been relapse-free for two years. This treatment regimen may be beneficial for patients with advanced LCNEC.

Keywords: large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, chemotherapy, amrubicin, irinotecan, lung cancer

General overview: Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a relatively uncommon variant of non-small cell lung cancer. Since LCNEC has similar biological characteristics and aggressive clinical features to small cell lung cancer (SCLC), LCNEC is usually treated with combination regimens used for SCLC. However, the outcomes are far from satisfactory. We report a 66-year-old LCNEC patient with brain metastasis, who achieved a complete response to the whole brain irradiation followed by a combination of amrubicin and irinotecan. Both drugs are active against several malignant diseases, especially small cell lung cancer. At present, he has been without relapse for two years. The results obtained with this regimen may add the new regimen for treatment of patients with advanced LCNEC.

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