Safety and efficacy of amrubicin monotherapy in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract: a single cancer center retrospective study

Long-term survival with multimodal treatment including conversion surgery for locally advanced esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), a rare and aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The optimal treatment strategy for locally advanced and recurrent esophageal NEC remains unclear, and conversion surgery has only been reported for a few cases. Herein, we present the case of a 66-year-old male with locally advanced esophageal NEC initially diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma.

CASE SUMMARY

The patient underwent induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil, followed by conversion surgery, including subtotal esophagectomy, three-field lymph node dissection, and distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, due to infiltration of the pancreas by the No. 11p lymph node. Postoperative pathological findings revealed a large cell-type NEC without a squamous cell carcinoma component, suspected to be a mixed neuroendocrine/non-neuroendocrine neoplasm. Hepatic metastasis was diagnosed within one month of surgery. Despite the administration of four courses of irinotecan + cisplatin chemotherapy, the treatment effect was considered a ‘progressive disease’. After a multidisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent partial liver resection, followed by second-line chemotherapy with amrubicin. The patient achieved three-year survival with no new recurrence.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the potential of multimodal treatment for long-term survival in advanced esophageal NEC.

Selection of Chemotherapy in Advanced Poorly Differentiated Extra-Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Extra-pulmonary poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma is rare, and evidence for treatment has been limited. In this article, the evidence behind the cytotoxic chemotherapy choices used for metastatic or unresectable EP-PD-NEC is reviewed. In the first-line setting, etoposide and platinum chemotherapy or irinotecan and platinum have been demonstrated to be equivalent in a large phase III trial. Questions remain regarding the optimal number of cycles, mode of delivery, and the precise definition of platinum resistance in this setting. In the second-line setting, FOLFIRI has emerged as an option, with randomized phase 2 trials demonstrating modest, but significant, response rates. Beyond this, data are extremely limited, and several regimens have been used. Heterogeneity in biological behaviour is a major barrier to optimal EP-PD-NEC management. Available data support the potential role of the Ki-67 index as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapy response. A more personalised approach to management in future studies will be essential, and comprehensive multi-omic approaches are required to understand tumour somatic genetic changes in relation to their effects on the surrounding microenvironment.

Potent molecular-targeted therapies for gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), which are characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation, can arise in various organs. NENs have been divided into well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) based on morphological differentiation, each of which has a distinct etiology, molecular profile, and clinicopathological features. While the majority of NECs originate in the pulmonary organs, extrapulmonary NECs occur most predominantly in the gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) system. Although platinum-based chemotherapy is the main therapeutic option for recurrent or metastatic GEP-NEC patients, the clinical benefits are limited and associated with a poor prognosis, indicating the clinically urgent need for effective therapeutic agents. The clinical development of molecular-targeted therapies has been hampered due to the rarity of GEP-NECs and the paucity of knowledge on their biology. In this review, we summarize the biology, current treatments, and molecular profiles of GEP-NECs based on the findings of pivotal comprehensive molecular analyses; we also highlight potent therapeutic targets for future precision medicine based on the most recent results of clinical trials.

Salvage Chemotherapy by FOLFIRI Regimen for Poorly Differentiated Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment for advanced poorly differentiated gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma (GI-NEC), with platinum-containing regimens being the optimal first-line regimen. However, the role and efficacy of second-line chemotherapy for GI-NEC are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as second-line therapy in patients with relapsed or recurrent GI-NEC after first-line platinum plus etoposide therapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated eight consecutive patients with unresectable GI-NEC treated between 2017 and 2020. The inclusion criteria were pre-treatment with platinum doublet therapy, performance status (PS) 0-2, having measurable lesions, and treatment with FOLFIRI as second-line therapy. The overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety, and relative dose intensity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Five patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 37 cycles of FOLFIRI were administered. The relative dose intensities for irinotecan, continuous infusion of 5-FU, and a bolus injection of 5-FU were 76%, 72%, and 54%, respectively. Overall, 2 of the 5 patients achieved partial response (40%), and the duration of response (DOR) was 4.0 months. The PFS and OS rates were 5.8 (95% CI, 1.5-NA) and 11 (95% CI, 6.3-NA) months, respectively. Overall, 4 of the 5 patients (80%) proceeded with further chemotherapy. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events except hematological toxicity included febrile neutropenia (n = 2), anorexia (n = 2), and fatigue (n = 1). Treatment discontinuation due to treatment-related adverse events was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

FOLFIRI showed modest efficacy and feasibility for GI-NEC patients and has thus potential for patients who fail the first-line treatment.