Mutational analysis of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: APC gene mutations identify a good prognostic factor

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a highly aggressive neoplasm with biological heterogeneity. Mutations in multiple genes have been identified in LCNEC. However, associations between gene alterations, histopathological characteristics, and prognosis remain ambiguous. Here, we investigated the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and genomic characteristics of 19 patients with LCNEC and 9 patients with atypical carcinoid (AC). We revealed high mutation frequencies of TP53 (89.5 %), RB1 (42.1 %), APC (31.6 %), and MCL1 (31.6 %) in LCNEC, while genetic alterations were rarely found in AC. APC alterations mainly occurred to the exon 16 and were only identified in LCNEC with wild-type RB1. The 19 LCNEC were further subgrouped into APC wild-type (LCNEC-APCMT, 6/19) and APC-mutated (LCNEC-APCWT, 13/19) subgroups. In comparison with LCNEC-APCWT, LCNEC-APCMT displayed lower TMB (median: 12.64 vs 4.20, P = 0.045), and relatively mild cytologic atypia. In addition, LCNEC-APCMT distinguished itself from AC and LCNEC-APCWT by obviously downregulated expression of neuroendocrine markers (CD56 and Syn, P < 0.01) and significantly altered expression of genes downstream of APC (β-catenin migrating into the cytoplasm and nucleus, P < 0.001; c-Myc upregulating, P = 0.005). The OS of LCNEC-APCMT was numerically intermediate between AC and LCNEC-APCWT. We first proposed that APC alterations were common in LCNEC with wild-type RB1 and that LCNEC-APCMT was associated with lower TMB and better OS in comparison with LCNEC-APCWT.

Construction and validation of nomograms based on the log odds of positive lymph nodes to predict the prognosis of lung neuroendocrine tumors

Background

This research aimed to investigate the predictive performance of log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) for the long-term prognosis of patients with node-positive lung neuroendocrine tumors (LNETs).

Methods

We collected 506 eligible patients with resected N1/N2 classification LNETs from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. The study cohort was split into derivation cohort (n=300) and external validation cohort (n=206) based on different geographic regions. Nomograms were constructed based on the derivation cohort and validated using the external validation cohort to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with LNETs. The accuracy and clinical practicability of nomograms were tested by Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), calibration plots, and decision curve analyses.

Results

The Cox proportional-hazards model showed the high LODDS group (-0.79≤LODDS) had significantly higher mortality compared to those in the low LODDS group (LODDS<-0.79) for both CSS and OS. In addition, age at diagnosis, sex, histotype, type of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were also chosen as predictors in Cox regression analyses using stepwise Akaike information criterion method and included in the nomograms. The values of C-index, NRI, and IDI proved that the established nomograms were better than the conventional eighth edition of the TNM staging system. The calibration plots for predictions of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year CSS/OS were in excellent agreement. Decision curve analyses showed that the nomograms had value in terms of clinical application.

Conclusions

We created visualized nomograms for CSS and OS of LNET patients, facilitating clinicians to bring individually tailored risk assessment and therapy.

The Role of Surgery in High-Grade Neuroendocrine Cancer: Indications for Clinical Practice

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) represent a particular type of malignant lung cancers and can be divided into well-differentiated low-grade NET and poorly-differentiated high-grade NET. Typical and atypical carcinoids belong to the first group while large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) and small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) belong to the second one. The aim of this mini-review is to focus on the role of surgical therapy for high grade neuroendocrine tumors. SCLC has the worst prognosis among all lung cancer neoplasms: in fact, the two-year survival rate is about 5% and median survival usually ranges between 15 and 20 months. The surgical treatment of SCLC has thus infrequently been judged as a valuable aspect of the therapeutic approach, the gold standard treatment being a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As LCNEC are rare, there is a lack of extensive literature and randomized clinical trials, therefore the curative approach is still controversial. Current treatment guidelines suggest treating LCNEC by surgical resection in non-metastatic stages and recommend adjuvant chemotherapy according to SCLC protocol. Upfront surgery is suggested in early stages (from I to IIB), a multimodality approach is recommended in locally advanced stages (III) while surgery is not recommended in stage IV LCNEC. The rate of surgical resection is quite low, particularly for SCLC, ranging from 1 to 6% in limited diseases; lobectomy with radical lymphadenectomy is considered the gold standard surgical procedure in the case of limited disease SCLC and resectable LCNEC; pneumonectomy, although reported as an effective tool, should be avoided in the light of local and distant recurrence rates.

Survival After Lobectomy vs. Sublobar Resection for Stage IA Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung: A Population-Based Study

Objective

Due to the low incidence of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), the survival analysis for comparing lobectomy and sublobar resection (SLR) for stage IA LCNEC remains scarce.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with pathological stage IA LCNEC between 1998 and 2016 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The oncological outcomes were cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox multivariate analysis were used to identify the independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Furthermore, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed between SLR and lobectomy to adjust the confounding factors.

Results

A total of 308 patients with stage IA LCNEC met the inclusion criteria: 229 patients (74.4%) received lobectomy and 79 patients (25.6%) received SLR. Patients who underwent SLR were older (P < 0.001), had smaller tumor size (P = 0.010), and less lymph nodes dissection (P < 0.001). The 5-year CSS and OS rates were 56.5 and 42.9% for SLR, and 67.8 and 55.7% for lobectomy, respectively (P = 0.037 and 0.019, respectively). However, multivariate analysis did not identify any differences between the SLR group and lobectomy group in CSS (P = 0.135) and OS (P = 0.285); and the PSM also supported these results. In addition, the age at diagnosis and laterality of tumor were identified as significant predictors for CSS and OS, whereas the number of lymph nodes dissection was a significant predictor for CSS.

Conclusions

Although SLR is not inferior to lobectomy in terms of oncological outcomes for patients with stage IA LCNEC, more lymph nodes can be dissected or sampled during lobectomy. Lobectomy should still be considered as a standard procedure for patients with early-stage LCNEC who are able to withstand lobectomy.

Surgical Principles in the Management of Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors: Open Questions and Controversial Technical Issues

OPINION STATEMENT

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the lung represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from the endocrine cells, involving different entities, from well differentiated to highly undifferentiated neoplasms. Because of the predominance of poorly differentiated tumors, advanced disease is observed at diagnosis in more than one third of patients making chemo- or chemoradiotherapy the only possible treatment. Complete surgical resection, as defined as anatomical resection plus systematic lymphadenectomy, becomes a reliable curative option only for that little percentage of patients presenting with stage I (N0) high-grade NETs. On the other hand, complete surgical resection is considered the mainstay treatment for localized low- and intermediate-grade NETs. Therefore, in the era of the mini-invasive surgery, their indolent behavior has suggested that parenchyma-sparing resections could be as adequate as the anatomical ones in terms of oncological outcomes, leading to discuss about the correct extent of resection and about the role of lymphadenectomy when dealing with highly differentiated NETs.

Risk factors, survival analysis, and nomograms for distant metastasis in patients with primary pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A population-based study

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rapidly progressive and easily metastatic high-grade lung cancer, with a poor prognosis when distant metastasis (DM) occurs. The aim of our study was to explore risk factors associated with DM in LCNEC patients and to perform survival analysis and to develop a novel nomogram-based predictive model for screening risk populations in clinical practice.

METHODS

The study cohort was derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, from which we selected patients with LCNEC between 2004 to 2015 and formed a diagnostic cohort (n = 959) and a prognostic cohort (n = 272). The risk and prognostic factors of DM were screened by univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic and Cox regressions, respectively. Then, we established diagnostic and prognostic nomograms using the data in the training group and validated the accuracy of the nomograms in the validation group. The diagnostic nomogram was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, decision curve analysis curves, and the GiViTI calibration belt. The prognostic nomogram was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, the concordance index, the calibration curve, and decision curve analysis curves. In addition, high- and low-risk groups were classified according to the prognostic monogram formula, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS

In the diagnostic cohort, LCNEC close to bronchus, with higher tumor size, and with higher N stage indicated higher likelihood of DM. In the prognostic cohort (patients with LCNEC and DM), men with higher N stage, no surgery, and no chemotherapy had poorer overall survival. Patients in the high-risk group had significantly lower median overall survival than the low-risk group.

CONCLUSION

Two novel established nomograms performed well in predicting DM in patients with LCNEC and in evaluating their prognosis. These nomograms could be used in clinical practice for screening of risk populations and treatment planning.

Response to Icotinib Plus Chemotherapy in Pulmonary Atypical Carcinoid Harboring the EGFR L858R Mutation: A Brief Report

Introduction

Pulmonary atypical carcinoid (PAC) is a rare subtype of pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasm. Although EML4-ALK fusion has been detected in PAC, EGFR mutations have not been reported before.

Methods

We performed hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and next-generation sequencing on tissues at baseline and after surgery.

Results

The patient was diagnosed with having advanced PAC harboring the EGFR L858R mutation and then received a combination of icotinib and irinotecan plus cisplatin chemotherapy, achieving a partial response before the operation. Postoperative histology results revealed SCLC harboring the EGFR L858R mutation. Surprisingly, both the KRAS amplification and the RB1 deletion disappeared.

Conclusions

EGFR tyrosine inhibitors plus irinotecan plus cisplatin chemotherapy might be a potential treatment option for advanced pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms harboring EGFR mutations.

Atypical carcinoid with multiple central airway metastases: A case report

A 51-year-old man was found to have multiple polypoid tracheal and bilateral main bronchial tumors during postoperative follow-up of atypical carcinoid. He underwent transtracheal biopsy, and was diagnosed as having central airway metastases of the atypical carcinoid. He underwent chemotherapy, but the effects were unfavorable. Owing to the risk of airway obstruction, he was referred to our hospital for interventional bronchoscopy. Carcinoid tumors usually present as peripheral lung lesions or solitary endobronchial abnormalities, but rarely appear as multiple central airway lesions. We present a very rare case of multiple central airway metastases of atypical carcinoid, controlled by bronchoscopic treatment.

Administrative and clinical databases: General thoracic surgery perspective on approaches and pitfalls

Databases are created to serve 1 of 2 fundamental functions: (1) research and (2) benchmarking/quality. Their construction and nature affects the extent to which they can accomplish these functions.

Clinical-Pathologic Challenges in the Classification of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Targets on the Horizon for Future Clinical Practice

Diagnosing a pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) may be difficult, challenging clinical decision making. In this review, the following key clinical and pathologic issues and informative molecular markers are being discussed: (1) What is the preferred outcome parameter for curatively resected low-grade NENs (carcinoid), for example, overall survival or recurrence-free interval? (2) Does the WHO classification combined with a Ki-67 proliferation index and molecular markers, such as OTP and CD44, offer improved prognostication in low-grade NENs? (3) What is the value of a typical versus atypical carcinoid diagnosis on a biopsy specimen in local and metastatic disease? Diagnosis is difficult in biopsy specimens and recent observations of an increased mitotic rate in metastatic carcinoid from typical to atypical and high-grade NEN can further complicate diagnosis. (4) What is the (ir)relevance of morphologically separating large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) SCLC and the value of molecular markers (RB1 gene and pRb protein or transcription factors NEUROD1, ASCL1, POU2F3, or YAP1 [NAPY]) to predict systemic treatment outcome? (5) Are additional diagnostic criteria required to accurately separate LCNEC from NSCLC in biopsy specimens? Neuroendocrine morphology can be absent owing to limited sample size leading to missed LCNEC diagnoses. Evaluation of genomic studies on LCNEC and marker studies have identified that a combination of napsin A and neuroendocrine markers could be helpful. Hence, to improve clinical practice, we should consider to adjust our NEN classification incorporating prognostic and predictive markers applicable on biopsy specimens to inform a treatment outcome-driven classification.

Morbidity and extent of surgical resection of carcinoid tumors after endobronchial treatment

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed whether endobronchial therapy (EBT) for bronchial carcinoid, if not curative, reduces the extent of the surgical resection and whether EBT is associated with increased surgical morbidity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Analysis was performed in a cohort of patients with bronchial carcinoid who have undergone surgical resection. A group that underwent EBT before the surgery (S + EBT) was compared with a group where no EBT was performed (S-EBT). Postoperative complications were also compared between both groups.

RESULTS

A total of 254 patients treated for a bronchial carcinoid tumor between 2003 and 2019 were screened for inclusion. A total of 65 surgically treated patients were included, of whom 41 (63%) underwent EBT prior to surgery. In 5 out of 41 patients (12%) from the S + EBT group, less parenchyma was resected versus 2 out of 24 (8%) from the S-EBT group (OR 1.528, 95% CI 0.273-8.562, p = 1.000). Two patients from the S + EBT group (5%) underwent lobectomy instead of sleeve lobectomy versus 0 from the S-EBT group (OR 1.051, 95% CI 0.981-1.127, p = 0.527). Comparing complications between the S + EBT and S-EBT group did not result in increased postoperative surgical morbidity (15% S + EBT, 24% S-EBT).

CONCLUSION

EBT, if not curative, does not reduce the extent of the subsequent surgical resection. Therefore, if curative EBT is not anticipated, patients should directly be referred for surgery. If curative EBT seems feasible, it should be attempted not only because surgical resection can be prevented, but also because failure of EBT is not associated with excess surgical morbidity.

Lung carcinoid tumors with Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary NeuroEndocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) exhibit pejorative pathological features

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary NeuroEndocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare disease often associated with carcinoid tumors. We aimed at evaluating the impact of DIPNECH on characteristics and prognosis of patients who underwent radical treatment of pulmonary carcinoid tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed all patients operated on for curative-intent resection of carcinoid tumor in our department from 2001 to 2020. Cases exhibiting both pathological and radiological features of DIPNECH, as assessed by respective thoracic expert physicians, were analyzed separately.

RESULTS

172 cases of resected carcinoid tumors were identified, including 25 (14.5 %) harboring pathological criteria of DIPNECH and radiologic features like mosaic attenuation (92.0 %), multiple nodules < 5 mm (76.0 %), and mucoid impactions (32 %). In DIPNECH patients, major pulmonary resections were usually performed (92.0 %) and resected tumors were mostly classified as pT1 (92 %). Mean Ki67 staining was 3.7 ± 5.2 %. The early postoperative period was mostly uneventful (96.0 %) and 5-year survival was 92.9 ± 6.9 %. Compared to non-DIPNECH cases, we found that patients were older (mean 65.6 ± 9.3 versus 54.1 ± 17.9, p = 0.002), more frequently female (84.0 % versus 56.5 %, p = 0.009), and exhibiting diabetes mellitus (45.8 % versus 18.5 %, p < 0.001) or hypertension (45.8 % versus 24.1 %, p = 0.039). The rate of atypical carcinoid tumors was significantly higher in DIPNECH patients (40.0 % versus 19.9 %, p = 0.027), as well as rate of mediastinal lymph-nodes involvement (pN2+) (36.0 % versus 4.1 %, p < 0.001). At multivariate analysis, only DIPNECH pattern and atypical histology were independent factors of pN2 invasion which was the only predictor of poorer prognosis on Log-Rank test.

CONCLUSION

Carcinoid tumors with proven DIPNECH are associated with negative pathological features and may deserve a dedicated perioperative management.

Prognostic score for survival with pulmonary carcinoids: the importance of associating clinical with pathological characteristics

OBJECTIVES

Lung carcinoids (LCs) are staged using the non-small-cell lung cancer tumour/node/metastasis staging system; the possibility of an LC-specific staging system is still being debated. The goal of our study was to construct a composite prognostic score for LC.

METHODS

From January 2002 to December 2014, data from 293 patients who underwent surgical treatment for LC in 7 research institutes were retrospectively analysed. A panel of established prognostic factors in addition to lymph node metastasis patterns (single/multiple N1-N2 station, skip metastasis, lobe specific), numbers of lymph nodes resected and the ratio between the numbers of metastatic lymph nodes and the numbers of lymph nodes resected (node ratio) were correlated to overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The log-hazard ratio (HR), obtained from the Cox model, was used to derive weighting factors for a continuous prognostic index, designed to identify differential outcome risks. The score was dichotomized according to maximally selected log-rank statistics.

RESULTS

Pathological analysis showed typical carcinoids in 223 (76.1%) and atypical carcinoids in 70 (23.9%) patients; the tumour/node/metastasis pattern was stage I in 72.4%, stage II in 18.1%, stage III in 9.5% and stage IV in 0.03% cases. The median numbers of lymph nodes resected was 12 (range 0-53); hilar and mediastinal node metastases were identified in 14% and 6.8% of cases, respectively. Overall, the 5-year OS and 5-year DFS rates were 90.6% and 76.7%, respectively. At multivariable analysis, sex, age, pathological T stage and node ratio were significantly related to a better OS; age, histological type, pathological T stage and node ratio were related to DFS. These factors were used to generate the prognostic score, which showed statistically significant differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups: 5-year OS = 96.6% if score <3.1 vs 63.5% if score ≥3.1 [P < 0.0001; HR 17.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.45-56.53]; 5-year DFS 92.3% if score <1.5 vs 52.5% if score ≥ 1.5 (P < 0.0001; HR 7.95, 95% CI 3.48-18.16).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed prognostic scores seem to be effective in predicting outcomes for patients with LCs.

Bronchoscopic diagnosis and treatment of endobronchial carcinoid: case report and review of the literature

Carcinoid tumours are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that mostly occur in younger adults with low tendencies to metastasise. Based on their histological characteristics, they are divided into typical and atypical subtypes. The most common presenting symptoms are due to central airway obstruction. The first step in the diagnostic assessment should be a computed tomography (CT) scan, as it provides information both for local tumour extent and lymph node involvement. Bronchoscopy is the main tool for histological confirmation, evaluation of bronchial wall invasion and removal of endobronchial manifestation with subsequent resolution of atelectasis. Endobronchial ultrasound may be necessary to rule out lymph node metastasis. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in combination with CT can rule out further metastatic disease.Surgical resection using parenchyma-sparing techniques remains the gold standard for treatment. For selected patients, endobronchial therapy could be an alternative for minimal invasiveness. Long-term follow-up is suggested due to the high likelihood of recurrence.Here, we describe our clinical experience in a 35-year-old male patient who originally presented with haemoptysis and a central polypoid tumour in the left main bronchus revealed by a CT scan. The histological characteristics were indicative of a typical carcinoid. The patient was treated using an endobronchial approach only. No complications and no recurrences have been observed in a follow-up of 2 years.

Prognostic significance of histopathological factors in survival and recurrence of atypical carcinoid tumours

OBJECTIVES

Atypical carcinoids are neuroendocrine neoplasms of intermediate degree and low frequency. The aim of this study is to analyse their clinical characteristics and the importance of different histopathological factors in their prognosis.

METHODS

Multicentre cooperative group EMETNE prospectively reviewed 153 patients operated on between 1998 and 2016 with diagnosis of atypical carcinoids. Clinical variables and histopathological features were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean age was 54.36 years, similar for both genders. Concerning pathological study, mean tumour size was 31.7 mm. Rosettes were presented in 17% of the cases and tumoural necrosis in 23.3%. The cell proliferation factor Ki-67 index was 10.7%. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 95.8% and 88.9%, respectively. In the univariate study, statistically significant differences in survival were found for each of the categories of T, N and M factors. Mitotic index and quantification of expression of Ki-67 showed influence in overall survival, although without statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, factors N, M and mitotic index behaved as independent prognostic factors related to survival. Median disease-free interval in the series was 163.35 months. In cases with loco-regional recurrence, 53% had positive hiliar or mediastinal nodal involvement at the time of the surgery. In the univariate analysis, we observed statistically significant differences in disease-free interval in patients with nodal involvement (P = 0.024) and non-anatomical resections (P = 0.04). Histological characteristics showed no statistically significant differences in disease-free interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph node involvement, the development of distant metastasis and mitotic index, more than Ki-67 determination, were shown as independent prognostic factors related to survival of these patients.

Prognostic nomogram for predicting long-term cancer-specific survival in patients with lung carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND

Lung carcinoid is a rare malignant tumor with poor survival. The current study established a nomogram model for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with lung carcinoid tumors.

METHODS

A total of 1956 patients diagnosed with primary lung carcinoid tumors were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The specific predictors of CSS for lung carcinoid tumors were identified and integrated to build a nomogram. Validation of the nomogram was conducted using parameters concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, decision curve analyses (DCAs), and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

Age at diagnosis, grade, histological type, N stage, M stage, surgery of the primary site, radiation of the primary site, and tumor size were independent prognostic factors of CSS. High discriminative accuracy of the nomogram model was shown in the training cohort (C-index = 0.873), which was also testified in the internal validation cohort (C-index = 0.861). In both cohorts, the calibration plots showed good concordance between the predicted and observed CSS at 3, 5, and 10 years. The DCA showed great potential for clinical application. The ROC curve showed superior survival predictive ability of the nomogram model (area under the curve = 0.868).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a practical nomogram that provided independent predictions of CSS for patients with lung carcinoid tumors. This nomogram may have the potential to assist clinicians in prognostic evaluations or developing individualized therapies for patients with this neoplasm.

A Population-Based Systematic Clinical Analysis With a Single-Center Case Series of Patients With Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study aims to conduct an updated systematic analysis of patients with pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (PLCNC) in recent decades, concerning incidence and mortality trends, demographics, treatments, survival and death causes.

METHODS

Patients who were diagnosed with PLCNC at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between 2000 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were also retrieved. Frequencies and average annual age-adjusted rates (AAR) of PLCNC patients were calculated and analyzed by Joint-point regression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used for identifying prognostic factors. Predictive nomograms for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were developed and then validated by calculating C-index values and drawing calibration curves. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Causes of death were also analyzed by time latency.

RESULTS

A total of 56 PLCNC patients of the PUMCH cohort were included. Additionally, the PLCNC patients in the SEER database were also identified from different subsets. The AAR from 2001 to 2017 were 3.21 (95%CI: 3.12-3.30) per million. Its incidence and mortality rates in PLCNC patients increased at first but seemed to decline in recent years. Besides TNM stage and treatments, older age and male gender were independently associated with poorer survival, while marital status only affected CSS other than OS. The nomograms for OS and CSS presented great predictive ability and calibration performance. Surgery gave significantly more survival benefits to PLCNC patients, and chemotherapy might add survival benefits to stage II-IV. However, radiation therapy seemed to only improve stage III patients' survival.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supported some previous studies in terms of incidence, survival, and treatment options. The mortality rates seemed to decline recently, after an earlier increase. Among PLCNC patients, most of the deaths occurred within the first five years, while other non-PLCNC diseases increased after that. Thus, careful management and follow-up of other comorbidities are of equal importance. Our study may partly solve the dilemma caused by PLCNC's rarity and inspire more insights in future researches.

Anterior mediastinal large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with elevated AFP: A case report and review

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive cancer that typically presents in the lung. The current case report describes a 56 year old male who presented to Strong Memorial Hospital with progressive dyspnea and was revealed to have a large anterior mediastinal tumor with metastases to axillary, hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. Tumor marker results revealed an elevated plasma level of α-fetoprotein (AFP), which initially pointed towards a diagnosis of teratoma, but the tumor stained positive for neuroendocrine markers CD56, chromogranin, and synaptophysin on biopsy, consistent with LCNEC. AFP-positive tumor cells were identified, and no alternate cause for the elevated AFP was identified. The patient underwent genetic testing revealing the tumor to be ALK, ROS1, KRAS, BRAF and EGFR wild type. The patient received 6 cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin (80 mg/m²) and etoposide (100 mg/m²) and then radiation with an initial minor response. The patients course was complicated by the development of superior vena cava syndrome requiring emergency stenting. The results of the current case suggest that AFP may be worthy of further exploration as a potential tumor marker in LCNEC.

Preoperative Biopsy Diagnosis in Pulmonary Carcinoids, a Shot in the Dark

INTRODUCTION

The preferred treatment for pulmonary carcinoids (PCs) is lobectomy, and parenchyma-sparing approaches might be considered for typical carcinoids (TCs). Treatment decisions are based on a preoperative biopsy diagnosis. Following the WHO criteria (2015), definitive diagnosis is only feasible postoperatively, thereby hampering preoperative treatment decisions. Here, we determined whether the final carcinoid classification on a resection specimen can be predicted by a preoperative biopsy.

METHODS

We searched all stage I to III patients with a final carcinoid diagnosis who underwent a curative resection and of whom both a preoperative biopsy and paired resection specimen were available (2003-2012) using the Dutch Pathology Registry (PALGA) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry (IKNL). Pathology report conclusions of the biopsy-resection specimen were compared.

RESULTS

Paired biopsy-resection specimens in combination with clinical data were available from 330 patients. 57% (189 of 330) of the patients exhibited discordance between the preoperative biopsy and paired resection diagnosis, including 36% (44 of 121) preoperatively diagnosed TC, 40% (six of 15) atypical carcinoid (AC), and 65% (103 of 158) not-otherwise-specified (NOS) carcinoids. A quarter of preoperatively diagnosed TC and NOS was reclassified as AC on the resection specimen. Preoperatively diagnosed ACs exhibited the highest relapse rates (40%, 6 of 15). Preoperatively diagnosed TC and NOS patients who were reclassified as ACs exhibited higher relapse rates as compared to nonreclassified TCs and NOS (3% versus 1%, and 16% versus 6%).

CONCLUSIONS

We provide evidence that carcinoid classification on preoperative biopsies is imprecise, as is also stated by the current WHO classification. We advise clinicians to interpret the preoperative biopsy diagnosis with caution in deciding the extent of surgery (e.g., parenchyma-sparing versus non-parenchyma-sparing).

Results of Surgical Resection of Locally Advanced Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors include well-differentiated and poorly differentiated histology for which cell type has proved to be a determinant of survival in many studies. In patients diagnosed with bronchial carcinoid and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), surgery is the treatment of choice even in the case of locally advanced disease with lymph node involvement.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing anatomic lung resection for bronchial carcinoid or LCNEC with lymph node involvement (N1/N2) at the final pathologic examination (pN+). Characteristics of patients and differences in overall survival and disease-free survival are presented according to tumor type. Overall survival of distinct histologic groups was compared with survival in our institutional experience in stage I patients, without nodal involvement (pN0).

RESULTS

In all, 325 patients underwent surgical resection for neuroendocrine tumors; 89 patients had nodal involvement. Five-year survival was 89% in pN+ bronchial carcinoid both for typical carcinoid and atypical carcinoid but worse for pN+ LCNEC (47%). Cell type did not influence the prognosis in N0 disease, and no differences in survival were evident between N0 and N+ in the bronchial carcinoid group. In the group of LCNEC, 5-year overall survival was much worse for pN+ LCNEC (47%) compared with pN0 LCNEC (91%).

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchial carcinoids have the best prognosis, and surgery remains the treatment of choice for both early and locally advanced disease. On the contrary, aggressive forms (LCNEC) with lymph nodal metastasis have a poor prognosis, and they need to be treated with an aggressive multidisciplinary approach.

Lung carcinoids with high proliferative activity: Further support for the identification of a new tumor category in the classification of lung neuroendocrine neoplasms

Highly proliferative lung carcinoids (HPLC) have been recently reported but information about this subset remains scarce.

OBJECTIVES

Clinical and pathological data of 630 patients with lung carcinoids (LC) referred to Gustave Roussy Institute (GR) and European Institute of Oncology (IEO) were retrospectively reviewed to select HPLC and analyze their frequency, behavior and compare their outcome to conventional LC with Ki-67 ≤ 20 % and mitotic count (MC)≤10/2 mm².

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Selection criteria were: diagnosis of LC confirmed by local pathologist, and available clinical and follow-up data. Patients with Ki-67 > 20 % and/or MC > 10/ 2 mm2 in primary or metastatic specimens were identified as HPLC.

RESULTS

30/514 patients (6%) met the selection criteria of HPLC. Based on primary tumor evaluation, 22/25 (88 %) were classified as atypical carcinoids (AC). Median MC was 4.5/2 mm² (1-11) 6/2 mm² (3-15) in primary tumors and metastasis, respectively. Median Ki-67 was respectively 23 % (15-65) and 25 % (8-60). Recurrence rate was 66 % (12/18) in HPLC and 9 % (33/352) in conventional LC. Median RFS was 24 (10-NR) months in HPLC, 288 (141-NR) months in LC with Ki-67 index≤5 % and NR (148-NR) months in LC with Ki-67 6-20% (p < 001). Median OS was 203 (83-NR) months in LC with Ki-67 index≤5%, 101 (79-NR) months in LC with Ki-67 index 6-20 % and 53 (39-NR) months in HPLC (p = 002). Among 20 metastatic patients with HPLC, median PFS under platinum-based chemotherapy, everolimus, alkylating-based chemotherapy, FOLFOX and PRRT was 5.1 (95 % CI 0.7-9.4), 12.1(95 %CI 0.3-24), 6.8 (95 % CI 0-14.9), 10.2 (95 % CI 0.4-19.9) and 14.2 months (95 % CI 0-30) respectively. Best response was stable disease (SD) under platinum-based chemotherapy and partial response (PR) under alkylating-based chemotherapy and FOLFOX.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the existence and rarity of HPLC. Their characteristics and clinical behavior are more similar to LC rather than neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), suggesting that this entity could be managed accordingly.

Sublobar resection is associated with decreased survival for patients with early stage large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung

OBJECTIVES

Sublobar resection (SLR) for early non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has been shown to have a survival rate similar to that of lobectomy. Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung, although treated like an NSCLC, has a poor prognosis compared to NSCLC. We sought to determine if outcomes are poor in patients with early stage LCNEC treated with SLR versus lobectomy.

METHODS

We searched for patients with pathological stage I LCNEC ≤3 cm within the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2014. Propensity score matching was used to compare the 5-year overall survival rate of patients having SLR (wedge or segmentectomy) to that of patients having a lobectomy. Patients were matched for age, node sampling, comorbidity score, tumour size, insurance status and other factors. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1011 patients met the inclusion criteria: 263 were treated with SLR (223 wedges and 40 segmentectomies) and 748 patients, with lobectomy. Patients who received SLR were older, had more comorbidities and smaller tumours. On unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients who had SLR had decreased 5-year overall survival compared to those who had a lobectomy (37.9% vs 56.6%, P < 0.001). Propensity score matching (1:1) across 12 demographic and tumour variables yielded 185 patients per group with 34 segmentectomies and 151 wedge resections in the SLR cohort. On Kaplan-Meier analysis of the matched cohort, patients who had SLR had a worse 5-year overall survival rate compared to those who had a lobectomy (41.5% vs 60.3%; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SLR for early stage LCNEC is associated with a lower 5-year overall survival rate compared to lobectomy on unadjusted and propensity matched analyses.

[Surgery of tracheobronchial carcinoid tumours: Activity report]

INTRODUCTION

Our purpose is to evaluate our results of surgery for tracheobronchial carcinoid tumour as well as the long-term survival.

METHODS

This is a retrospective and descriptive study performed in the department of thoracic surgery of CHU Hassan II (Marocco) over a period of 9 years. It concerns all patients with a tracheal or bronchial carcinoid tumour who underwent surgery.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients with a mean age of 39 years were operated on for 24 carcinoid tumours. The sex ratio was 0.29. The diagnostic delay ranged from 3 months to 8 years and the main symptom was haemoptysis in 74% of cases (n=17). The tumour was localized in the right bronchial tree in 70% of cases (n=16). The procedures performed were tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 1 case, lobectomy in 12 cases including 3 sleeve lobectomies, bilobectomy of middle and lower lobes in 7 cases and pneumonectomy in 4 cases. The prognosis was favourable in 91% after an average follow-up of 29 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery remains the only curative therapeutic option for tracheobronchial carcinoid tumours with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Anatomical resections are superior to wedge resections for overall survival in patients with Stage 1 typical carcinoids

OBJECTIVES

Typical carcinoids (TCs) are rare, slow-growing neoplasms, usually characterized by satisfactory surgical outcomes. Due to the rarity of TCs, international guidelines for the management of particular clinical presentations currently do not exist. In particular, non-anatomical resections (wedges) are sometimes advocated for Stage 1 TCs because of their indolent behaviour. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the most effective type of surgery for Stage 1 TCs, using the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons retrospective database of the Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lung Working Group.

METHODS

We analysed the effect of surgical procedure on the survival of patients with Stage 1 TCs. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of intervention. The cumulative incidence of cause-specific death (tumour- and non-tumour-related) was also estimated. The impact of the surgical procedure (i.e. lobectomy vs segmentectomy vs wedge resection) on survival was investigated using the Cox model with shared frailty (for OS, accounting for the within-centre correlation) and the Fine and Gray model (for cause-specific mortality) using the approach based on the multinomial propensity score. Effects were estimated including in the model the logit-transformed propensity scores of segmentectomy and wedge resection as covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 876 patients with Stage 1 TCs (569 women, 65%) were included in this study. The median age was 60 years (interquartile range 47-69). At the last follow-up, 66 patients had died: The 5-year OS rate was 94.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 92.2-95.9]. The 5-year cumulative incidences of tumour- and non-tumour-related deaths were 2.4% (95% CI 1.4-3.9) and 3.9% (95% CI 2.5-5.6%), respectively. The analysis performed using the multinomial propensity score approach confirmed the significantly worse survival of patients treated with a wedge resection compared to those treated with a lobectomy (hazard ratio 2.01, 95% CI 1.09-3.69; P = 0.024). Similar effects of wedge resection are detectable for cause-specific deaths: tumour-related (hazard ratio 2.28, 95% CI 0.86-6.02; P = 0.096) and non-tumour-related (hazard ratio 1.74, 95% CI 0.89-3.40; P = 0.105).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort of patients, we were able to demonstrate the superiority of anatomical surgical resection in Stage 1 TCs in terms of OS. This result should therefore be considered for future clinical guidelines for the management of TCs.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Tumor Size >3 cm Negatively Impacts Long-Term Outcomes After R0 Resection

BACKGROUND

Minimal knowledge exists regarding the outcome, prognosis and optimal treatment strategy for patients with pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) due to their rarity. We aimed to identify factors affecting survival and recurrence after resection to inform current treatment strategies.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 72 patients who had undergone a curative resection for LCNEC in 8 centers between 2000 and 2015. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing recurrence, disease-specific survival and overall survival. These included age, gender, previous malignancy, ECOG performance status, symptoms at diagnosis, extent of resection, extent of lymphadenectomy, additional chemo- and/or radiotherapy, tumor location, tumor size, pT, pleural invasion, pN and pStage.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 47 (95%CI 41-79) months; 5-year disease-specific and overall survival rates were 57.6% (95%CI 41.3-70.9) and 47.4% (95%CI 32.3-61.1). There were 22 systemic recurrences and 12 loco-regional recurrences. Tumor size was an independent prognostic factor for systemic recurrence [HR: 1.20 (95%CI 1.01-1.41); p = 0.03] with a threshold value of 3 cm (AUC = 0.71). For tumors ≤3 cm and >3 cm, 5-year freedom from systemic recurrence was 79.2% (95%CI 43.6-93.6) and 38.2% (95%CI 20.6-55.6) (p < 0.001) and 5-year disease-specific survival was 60.7% (95%CI 35.1-78.8) and 54.2% (95%CI 32.6-71.6) (p = 0.31), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of patients with surgically resected LCNEC will develop systemic recurrence after resection. Patients with tumors >3 cm have a significantly higher rate of systemic recurrence suggesting that adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered after complete resection of LCNEC >3 cm, even in the absence of nodal involvement.

The role of surgery for atypical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor: Development and validation of a model based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database

OBJECTIVES

The rarity of atypical carcinoid (AC) of lung and the lack of prospective clinical trials lead to limited knowledge of its biology, treatment information and prognosis. The current study analyzed AC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to better understand the clinical characteristics of this disease and build a prognostic nomogram for clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 507 AC patients with pathological confirmation from SEER database were performed with univariate Cox regression analyses for both overall survival (OS) and lung cancer specific survival (LCSS) analyses. Of the 507 observations, 464 were used in the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model as training cohort of new nomogram. A new nomogram was constructed based on the training cohort and validated by an external validation cohort to predict the 3-, 5- and 10-year OS of ACs. The accuracy and clinical practicability were separately tested by Harrell's C-indexes, calibration plots and decision curve analyses (DCA).

RESULTS

Lobectomy and segmental resection were found to be protective factors for AC patients. Age, primary tumor size, N stage, M stage, surgery and regional lymph nodes examination were shown as significant prognostic factors in Cox regression analyses and included in the nomogram as predictors. The C-index in the training cohort for 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were 0.722, 0.737 and 0.712, respectively. The internal and external calibration plots for predictions of the 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were in excellent agreement. An online webserver was built based on the proposed nomogram for convenient clinical use.

CONCLUSION

AC patients with lobectomy or segmental resection tended to have better OS and LCSS. A nomogram was constructed and validated to predict the OS for AC patients and to provide accurate and individualized survival predictions.

Lung Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: An Analysis of Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Database

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, clinicopathologic characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes in lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).

Material/Methods

Patients diagnosed with lung LCNEC between 2000 and 2013 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results database. Kaplan–Meier methods and univariate and multivariate analyses were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 2097 patients were identified. The total age-adjusted incidence rate of lung LCNEC was 0.3/100 000, with a rise in incidence over the study period. The 5-year lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) were 20.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that age ≥65 years, male sex, advanced tumor stage, advanced nodal stage, not undergoing surgery. and not undergoing chemotherapy were independent adverse indicators for survival outcomes. After stratification by tumor stage, undergoing surgery was associated with more favorable LCSS and OS compared with those without surgery, regardless of tumor stage.

Conclusions

LCNEC is a rare lung cancer subtype with a dismal prognosis. Primary surgical treatment has significant survival benefits, even for stage IV patients. The optimal treatment strategies for lung LCNEC require further investigation.

[Systemic Therapy for Low-grade Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumor]

肺部是神经内分泌肿瘤（neuroendocrine tumor, NET）的第二好发部位。肺类癌包括典型类癌和不典型类癌，属于低级别神经内分泌肿瘤。这一类肿瘤由于发病率较低，目前尚未得到广大医务工作者的重视。但有效的治疗不仅能提高患者的远期生存，还能控制患者症状，改善生活质量。本文分别阐述肺低级别神经内分泌肿瘤的流行病学和病理学特点、早期患者的治疗策略以及进展期患者的治疗策略。早期患者应当尽早进行手术治疗。进展期患者治疗方式包括化疗、SSAs、mTOR抑制剂、肽受体介导的放射性核素治疗、生物治疗以及靶向治疗。目前的研究结论大多来自其他部位的NETs研究外推而来，仍需针对肺低级别神经内分泌肿瘤患者进行特异性临床试验加以证实。

Unmet Medical Needs in Pulmonary Neuroendocrine (Carcinoid) Neoplasms

Pulmonary carcinoids (PCs) display the common features of all well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) and are classified as low- and intermediate-grade malignant tumours (i.e., typical and atypical carcinoid, respectively). There is a paucity of randomised studies dedicated to advanced PCs and management principles are drawn from the larger gastroenteropancreatic NEN experience. There is growing evidence that NEN anatomic subgroups have different biology and different responses to treatment and, therefore, should be investigated as separate entities in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the existing evidence and limitations of tumour classification, diagnostics and staging, prognostication, and treatment in the setting of PC, with focus on unmet medical needs and directions for the future.

The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) lung neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) database

Histological characteristics and clinical behaviour define lung neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which are classified into four groups: typical (TC) and atypical carcinoids (AC), large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNCs) and small-cell lung cancers (SCLCs). Historically, outcome and treatment of these rare neoplasms have been based on small, usually mono-institutional clinical series. Furthermore, their rarity makes quite impossible to design randomised clinical trial to compare different treatments especially in unusual clinical presentations. In 2012, the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) launched a new working-group, specifically dedicated to lung NETs, with the aim to develop modern knowledge on biology and behaviour of these tumors, and to disseminate it within the scientific community. A dedicated retrospective database was at first developed and sent to all the ESTS centres interested to this project. More than 2,000 operated NETs cases have been rapidly collected, and they represented the clinical substrate of several published scientific studies. The retrospective data collection intrinsic limitations in term of patients' selection and treatment, along with the problem of possible missing data, were the reasons why the ESTS NETs working-group decided in 2015 to design and promote a new prospective database, employing the official ESTS platform. The aim of this review paper is to report the ESTS Lung NETs working-group history and to explain the architecture and use of the lung NETs databases.

Treatment outcomes and incidence of brain metastases in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare type of high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor. The study objective is to investigate its survival outcomes, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence.

METHODS

This is a single center study of patients with pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary LCNEC. Patient data were collected retrospectively and analyzed, including survival, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence.

RESULTS

Of 87 patients (stages I: 24, II: 14, III: 23, IV: 26), 52 were managed curatively and 35 palliatively. The median follow-up time was 17.3 months (range 0.6-89.5) for those treated with curative intent and 7.0 months (range 0.1-28.6) for those treated palliatively. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates are 48.4% and 25.5% for the curative group, with a median OS of 13.5 months. In the palliative group, the OS are 30.8% at 1 year and 6.8% at 2 years, with a median OS of 7.0 months. Thirty-eight of 52 (73%) patients treated with curative intent had disease relapse, with the common sites being regional lymph nodes (20), brain (18), bones (11), and liver (9). The incidence of brain recurrence among those managed curatively are 21.4% and 41.3%, respectively at 1 and 2 years. Of 18 patients experiencing brain metastases, 14 developed them as part of a first relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

LCNEC's survival outcomes are poor. The incidence of brain metastases is higher than what is observed for other types of nonsmall cell lung cancers. Prophylactic cranial irradiation should be investigated as a means of improving outcomes.

Classification and Pathology of Lung Cancer

Advancement in the understanding of lung tumor biology enables continued refinement of lung cancer classification, reflected in the recently introduced 2015 World Health Organization classification of lung cancer. In small biopsy or cytology specimens, special emphasis is placed on separating adenocarcinomas from the other lung cancers to effectively select tumors for targeted molecular testing. In resection specimens, adenocarcinomas are further classified based on architectural pattern to delineate tissue types of prognostic significance. Neuroendocrine tumors are divided into typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, small cell carcinoma, and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma based on a combination of features, especially tumor cell proliferation rate.

Endobronchial Treatment for Bronchial Carcinoid: Patient Selection and Predictors of Outcome

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, surgical resection is the preferred treatment for typical carcinoids and atypical carcinoids located in the lungs. Recently however, several studies have shown excellent long-term outcome after endobronchial treatment of carcinoid tumors located in the central airways. This study investigates clinical and radiological features as predictors of successful endobronchial treatment in patients with a bronchial carcinoid tumor.

OBJECTIVES

To identify clinical and radiological features predictive of successful endobronchial treatment in patients with bronchial carcinoid.

METHODS

This analysis was performed in a cohort of patients with typical and atypical bronchial carcinoid referred for endobronchial treatment. Several patient characteristics, radiological features, and histological grade (typical or atypical carcinoid) were tested as predictors of successful endobronchial treatment.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-five patients with a diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid underwent endobronchial treatment. On multivariate analysis, a tumor diameter <15 mm (odds ratio 0.09; 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.5; p = <0.01) and purely intraluminal growth on computer tomography (CT scan) (odds ratio, 9.1; 95% confidence interval 1.8-45.8; p = <0.01) were predictive of radical endobronchial treatment. The success rate for intraluminal tumors with a diameter <20 mm was 72%.

CONCLUSIONS

Purely intraluminal disease and tumor diameter on CT scan seem to be independent predictors for successful endobronchial treatment in patients with bronchial carcinoid. Based on these data, patients with purely intraluminal carcinoid tumors with a diameter <20 mm on CT scan are good candidates for endobronchial treatment, regardless of histological grade. In contrast, all patients with a tumor diameter ≥20 mm should be directly referred for surgery.

[About two huge bilateral bronchial atypical carcinoid tumors]

Carcinoid tumors are well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of low grade malignancy or attenuated malignancy. Atypical bilateral bronchial forms are rarely reported. They pose a real problem of therapeutic strategy. We report a case of a 36-year-old woman with two large bilateral atypical carcinoid tumors. She received delayed bilateral parenchymal resection with postoperative uneventful course. Through a review of the literature, we discuss the therapeutic strategy. This observation remains special for several reasons. Not only by the rarity of the bilateral and atypical forms but also for the bilateral tumor sizes which led to a difficult intraoperative anesthetic management.

Surgical treatment of low and intermediate grade lung net

Background

Carcinoids now constitute complex tumours which require a multidisciplinary approach and long-term follow-up. Surgical intervention is nowadays confirmed as the mainstay of treatment.

Methods

From 1980 to 2015, EMETNE-SEPAR collected 1,339 patients treated surgically for bronchial carcinoid (1,154 typical and 185 atypical carcinoids). Standard and conservative procedures were considered with regard to surgical approach. All the patients with carcinoid were pathologically coded following the standards of the 7^th edition 2009 TNM lung cancer staging. Statistical analyses were performed in order to determine whether histology, nodal affectation and surgical technique were associated with significant differences in survival, presence of metastases and local recurrence.

Results

The influence of the surgical procedure on overall survival, the presence of metastases and local recurrence were demonstrated as no significant in our sample in central tumours (P>0.05). Sublobar resections in peripheral tumours are related to a decrease in survival in typical carcinoids (P=0.008) with nodal involvement and an increased number of recurrences in atypical carcinoids without nodal involvement (P=0.018).

Conclusions

In central typical carcinoid, the use of lung-sparing bronchoplastic techniques could influence local recurrence in some cases. This observation demands the intraoperative pathologic verification of an adequate surgical margin by frozen section. Peripheral typical carcinoids have been surgically treated, occasionally, by sublobar resection. However, in peripheral atypical carcinoid after a limited sublobar resection the observed increase of the probability of local recurrence makes it, in our opinion, not advisable.

Improvement in TNM staging of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors requires histology and regrouping of tumor size

OBJECTIVE

Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung are currently staged with the 7th edition TNM non-small cell lung cancer staging system. This decision, based on data analysis without data on histology or disease-specific survival, makes its applicability limited. This study proposes a specific staging system for these tumors.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 510 consecutive patients (female/male, 313/197; median age, 61 years; interquartile range, 51-70) undergoing lung resection for a primary neuroendocrine tumor between 2000 and 2015 in 8 centers. Multivariable analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazard model to identify factors associated with disease-specific survival. A new staging system was proposed on the basis of the results of this analysis. Kaplan-Meier disease-specific survival was analyzed by stage using the proposed and the 7th TNM staging system.

RESULTS

Follow-up was completed in 490 of 510 patients at a median of 51 months (interquartile range, 18-99). Histology (G1-typical carcinoid vs G2-atypical carcinoid vs G3-large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma) and pT were independently associated with survival, but pN was not. After regrouping histology and pT, we proposed the following staging system: IA (pT1-2G1), IB (pT3G1, pT1G2), IIA (pT4G1, pT2-3G2, pT1G3), IIB (pT4G2, pT2-3G3), and III (pT4G3). The 5-year survivals were 97.9%, 81.0%, 69.1%, 51.8%, and 0%, respectively. By using the 7th TNM, 5-year survivals were 95.0%, 92.3%, 67.7%, 70.9%, and 65.1% for stage IA, IB, IIA, IIB, and III, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating histology and regrouping tumor stage create a unique neuroendocrine tumor staging system that seems to predict survival better than the 7th TNM classification.

Distinctive pathological and clinical features of lung carcinoids with high proliferation index

Typical (TCs) and atypical carcinoids (ACs) are defined based on morphological criteria, and no grading system is currently accepted to further stratify these entities. The 2015 WHO classification restricts the Ki-67 role to biopsy or cytology samples, rather than for prognostic prediction. We aimed to investigate whether values and patterns of Ki-67 alone would allow for a clinically meaningful stratification of lung carcinoids, regardless of histological typing. Ki-67 proliferation index and pattern (homogeneous versus heterogeneous expression) were assessed in a cohort of 171 TCs and 68 ACs. Cases were subdivided into three Ki-67 ranges (<4/4–9/≥10%). Correlations with clinicopathological data, univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. The majority of cases (61.5%) belonged to the <4% Ki-67 range; 25.1 and 13.4% had a proliferation index of 4–9% and ≥10%, respectively. The <4% Ki-67 subgroup was significantly enriched for TCs (83%, p < 0.0001); ACs were more frequent in the subgroup showing Ki-67 ≥ 10% (75%, p < 0.0001). A heterogeneous Ki-67 pattern was preferentially seen in carcinoids with a Ki-67 ≥10% (38%, p < 0.02). Mean Ki-67 values ≥4 and ≥10% identified categories of poor prognosis both in terms of disease-free and overall survival (p = 0.003 and <0.0001). At multivariate analysis, the two thresholds did not retain statistical significance; however, a Ki-67 ≥ 10% identified a subgroup of dismal prognosis even within ACs (p = 0.03) at univariate analysis. Here, we describe a subgroup of lung carcinoids showing brisk proliferation activity within the necrosis and/or mitotic count-based categories. These patients were associated with specific clinicopathological characteristics, to some extent regardless of histological subtyping.

Ectopic ACTH-producing large cell neuroendocrine Pancoast tumour presenting as Horner syndrome

We present an interesting case where a patient is presented with a droopy left eyelid (as part of Horner syndrome) and Cushingoid features which were a result of a Pancoast tumour (apical lung tumour in superior pulmonary sulcus) involving the left lung. This tumour was secreting ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a paraneoplastic endocrine phenomenon, which resulted in Cushing syndrome symptomatology. Though most ectopic ACTH-producing lung cancers are either small cell or carcinoid tumours, this was in fact a large cell neuroendocrine cancer (LCNEC). Patient underwent surgical resection and adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radiation; however, he succumbed to LCNEC given aggressive nature of the disease.

Diagnosis and management of typical and atypical lung carcinoids

An estimated 20% to 30% of all neuroendocrine tumours originate in the bronchial tree and lungs. According to the 2015 World Health Organization categorization, these tumours are separated into four subtypes characterized by increasing biological aggressiveness: typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma. Although typical and atypical lung carcinoids account for less than 1-5% of all pulmonary malignancies, the incidence of these neoplasms has risen significantly in recent decades. Surgery is the treatment of choice for loco-regional disease but for advanced lung carcinoids there is no recognized standard of care and successful management requires a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of this review is to provide a useful guide for the clinical management of lung carcinoids.

Diagnosis and treatment of bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumours: State of the art

Bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumours (BP-NET) are a heterogeneous population of neoplasms with different pathology, clinical behaviour and prognosis compared to the more common lung cancers. The management of BP-NET patients is largely based on studies with a low level of evidence and extrapolation of data obtained from more common types of neuroendocrine tumours. This review reflects our view of the current state of the art of diagnosis and treatment of patients with BP-NET.

Multidisciplinary management of advanced lung neuroendocrine tumors

The optimal clinical management of aggressive/advanced lung neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is still debated, due to their rarity and the lack of prospective randomized studies. Results derive from retrospective mono-Institutional series, and few dedicated prospective trials, recently designed, are still ongoing. In low-grade tumors [bronchial carcinoids (BCs)] surgery, whenever feasible, remains the mainstay of treatment, and chemo/radiotherapy (RT) should be reserved to progressive diseases (PD). In case of resected N1-N2 BCs, a "watch and see" policy associated with a close clinical/radiological follow-up is recommended. Somatostatin analogs (SSA) seem to be effective in controlling BCs associated endocrine syndromes, while SSA antiproliferative effect has also been reported in the past. Targeted therapy with new drugs (Everolimus) seems to be very promising, but further trials are needed. Surgery alone is not sufficient to treat high-grade NETs: adjuvant CT is required also in early stages. Platinum-Etoposide regimen demonstrated to be the most effective; irinotecan and other biological drugs are considered very promising. In conclusion, the management of advanced lung NETs should be individualized by multidisciplinary teams which include Medical and Radiation Oncologists, Surgeons, Pathologists, Pulmonologists, Endocrinologists, Interventional Radiologists, and the prognosis is mainly dependent on tumor grade and its anatomical extent.