Gamma Knife radiosurgery for brain metastases from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a Japanese multi-institutional cooperative study (JLGK1401)

Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung and brain metastases - data from a tertiary care center

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung is an aggressive malignancy, with brain metastases (BM) occurring in approximately 20% of cases. There are currently no therapy guidelines for this population as only few data on the management of LCNEC and BM have been published. For this retrospective single center study, patients with LCNEC and BM were identified from the Vienna Brain Metastasis Registry. Data on clinicopathological features, BM-specific characteristics, treatment, and outcome were extracted. In total, 52/6083 (0.09%) patients in the dataset had a diagnosis of LCNEC and radiologically verified BM. Median age at diagnosis of LCNEC and BM was 59.1 and 60.1 years, respectively. Twenty-seven (51.9%) presented with single BM, while 12 (23%) exhibited > 3 BM initially. Neurologic symptoms due to BM were present in n = 40 (76.9%), encompassing neurologic deficits (n = 24), increased intracranial pressure (n = 18), and seizures (n = 6). Initial treatment of BM was resection (n = 13), whole brain radiation therapy (n = 19), and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (n = 25). Median overall survival (mOS) from LCNEC diagnosis was 16 months, and mOS after BM diagnosis was 7 months. Patients with synchronous BM had reduced mOS from LCNEC diagnosis versus patients with metachronous BM (11 versus 27 months, p = 0.003). Median OS after BM diagnosis did not differ between LCNEC patients and a control group of small cell lung cancer patients with BM (7 versus 6 months, p = 0.17). Patients with LCNEC and BM have a poor prognosis, particularly when synchronous BM are present. Prospective trials are required to define optimal therapeutic algorithms.

Risk factors and prognostic factors for pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with brain metastasis

BACKGROUND

As the studies regarding the brain metastasis (BM) of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are insufficient, the present research aims to describe the risk factors and prognostic factors that are related to cancer-specific survival (CSS) for LCNEC patients with BM.

METHODS

The data of LCNEC patients between January 2010 and October 2018 were obtained from the SEER database. Binary logistic regression analyses were utilized to screen the possible risk factors related to BM. Prognostic factors for LCNEC patients with BM were indentified by Cox regression analyses. Moreover, a nomogram was established to predict the 6-, 12-, and 18-month CSS rates. The concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were utilized to assess the discrimination and reliability of the model. Clinical decision curves (DCAs) were used to evaluate the clinical benefits and utility of our model.

RESULTS

Totally, 1875 patients were enrolled, with 294 (15.7%) of them having BM at diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that patients with age < 65 (odds ratio, OR = 1.564) and N2 staging (OR = 1.775) had a greater chance of developing BM. Age (≥ 65 vs. < 65: hazard ratio, HR = 1.409), T staging (T1 vs. T0: HR = 4.580; T2 vs. T0: HR = 6.008; T3 vs. T0: HR = 7.065; T4 vs. T0: HR = 6.821), N staging (N2 vs. N0: HR = 1.592; N3 vs. N0: HR = 1.654), liver metastasis (HR = 1.410), primary site surgery (HR = 0.581) and chemotherapy (HR = 0.452) were independent prognostic factors for LCNEC patients with BM. A nomogram prediction model was constructed by incorporating these factors. Using the C-index, calibration curves, ROC curves, and DCAs, we found that the clinical prediction model performed well.

CONCLUSION

We described the risk factors and prognostic factors that were associated with CSS for LCNEC patients with BM. The related nomogram was established and validated to help clinicians formulate more rational and effective treatment strategies.

The Management and Outcomes of Patients with Extra-Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Brain Metastases

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) in patients with extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms (EP–NENs) are rare, and limited clinical information is available. The aim of this study was to detail the clinicopathological features, management and outcomes in patients with EP–NENs who developed BMs. Methods: A retrospective single-centre analysis of consecutive patients with EP–NENs (August 2004–February 2020) was conducted. Median overall survival (OS)/survival from BMs diagnosis was estimated (Kaplan–Meier). Results: Of 730 patients, 17 (1.9%) had BMs, median age 61 years (range 15–77); 8 (53%) male, unknown primary NEN site: 40%. Patients with BMs had grade 3 (G3) EP–NENs 11 (73%), G2: 3 (20%), G1: 1 (7%). Eight (53%) had poorly differentiated NENs, 6 were well-differentiated and 1 was not recorded. Additionally, 2 (13%) patients had synchronous BMs at diagnosis, whilst 13 (87%) developed BMs metachronously. The relative risk of developing BMs was 7.48 in patients with G3 disease vs. G1 + G2 disease (p = 0.0001). Median time to the development of BMs after NEN diagnosis: 15.9 months (range 2.5–139.5). Five patients had a solitary BM, 12 had multiple BMs. Treatment of BMs were surgery (n = 3); radiotherapy (n = 5); 4: whole brain radiotherapy, 1: conformal radiotherapy (orbit). Nine (53%) had best supportive care. Median OS from NEN diagnosis was 23.6 months [95% CI 15.2–31.3]; median time to death from BMs diagnosis was 3.0 months [95% CI 0.0–8.3]. Conclusion: BMs in patients with EP–NENs are rare and of increased risk in G3 vs. G1 + G2 EP–NENs. Survival outcomes are poor, and a greater understanding is needed to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Management of non-vestibular schwannomas in adult patients: a systematic review and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section Part III: Lower cranial nerve schwannomas, jugular foramen (CN IX, X, XI) and hypoglossal schwannoma (XII)

BACKGROUND

Non-vestibular schwannomas are relatively rare, with trigeminal and jugular foramen schwannomas being the most common. This is a heterogenous group which requires detailed investigation and careful consideration to management strategy. The optimal management for these tumours remains unclear, and there are several controversies. The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the main principles defining management and surgical strategy, in order to formulate a series of recommendations.

METHODS

A task force was created by the EANS skull base section committee along with its members and other renowned experts in the field to generate recommendations for the surgical management of these tumours on a European perspective. To achieve this, the task force performed an extensive systematic review in this field and had discussions within the group. This article is the third of a three-part series describing non-vestibular schwannomas (IX, X, XI, XII).

RESULTS

A summary of literature evidence was proposed after discussion within the EANS skull base section. The constituted task force dealt with the practice patterns that exist with respect to preoperative radiological investigations, ophthalmological assessments, optimal surgical and radiotherapy strategies and follow-up management.

CONCLUSION

This article represents the consensually derived opinion of the task force with respect to the treatment of non-vestibular schwannomas. For each of these tumours, the management paradigm is shifting towards the compromise between function preservation and progression free survival.

Management of non-vestibular schwannomas in adult patients: a systematic review and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section Part II: Trigeminal and facial nerve schwannomas (CN V, VII)

BACKGROUND

Non-vestibular schwannomas are relatively rare, with trigeminal and jugular foramen schwannomas being the most common. This is a heterogenous group which requires detailed investigation and careful consideration to management strategy. The optimal management for these tumours remains unclear and there are several controversies. The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the main principles defining management and surgical strategy, in order to formulate a series of recommendations.

METHODS

A task force was created by the EANS skull base section committee along with its members and other renowned experts in the field to generate recommendations for the surgical management of these tumours on a European perspective. To achieve this, the task force performed an extensive systematic review in this field and had discussions within the group. This article is the second of a three-part series describing non-vestibular schwannomas (V, VII).

RESULTS

A summary of literature evidence was proposed after discussion within the EANS skull base section. The constituted task force dealt with the practice patterns that exist with respect to pre-operative radiological investigations, ophthalmological assessments, optimal surgical and radiotherapy strategies, and follow-up management.

CONCLUSION

This article represents the consensually derived opinion of the task force with respect to the treatment of trigeminal and facial schwannoma. The aim of treatment is maximal safe resection with preservation of function. Careful thought is required to select the appropriate surgical approach. Most middle fossa trigeminal schwannoma tumours can be safely accessed by a subtemporal extradural middle fossa approach. The treatment of facial nerve schwannoma remains controversial.

Intracranial neuroendocrine tumour simulating meningioma for several years: an overview of diagnosis and treatment

Metastatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET) to brain has been reported in 1.5–5% of patients with NETs. Differentiation between intracranial NET metastasis and meningiomas can cause a diagnostic dilemma. We present a symptomatic case of a 66-year-old male with a history of left-sided skull base mass. The diagnosis of a meningioma was made based on the MRI findings and clinical presentation. The patient received radiation and the mass remained stable on serial MRI images at follow-up visits. Five years after his initial presentation, the patient’s mass showed further growth. He also complained of worsening of his recent diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and fluctuations in his blood pressure. Surgical resection was performed, and histopathological features were consistent with moderately differentiated neuroendocrine tumour. Further evaluation with 68 Gallium-DOTATATE positron emission-computed tomography (Ga-68 PET/CT) showed metastatic disease involving the bones, lymph nodes, and liver without convincing evidence of the location of primary malignancy within the bowel loops or the pancreas. The patient was started on combination of capecitabine and temozolomide with partial response and significant improvement of his symptoms. This case highlights the clinical and radiological behaviour of intracranial NET that can mimic the diagnosis of meningioma.

Management of an Unusual Central Nervous System Metastasis With Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery in a Low-Middle Income Country

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer, is quite rare and has been associated with brain metastasis, mainly to the cerebral hemispheres. However, the rate of cerebellar metastasis is underreported in the literature and appears to be quite rare. Despite the rarity of this metastasis, treatment guidelines for both supratentorial and cerebellar lesions have been established by using either radiosurgery or whole-brain radiation therapy. The choice of modality must take into consideration the vicinity of relevant structures such as the brainstem and its multiple nuclei. Here we report the case of a 68-year-old male, resident of a rural community in the Andean region of Ecuador, a low-middle income country; with the diagnosis of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung with dual central nervous system metastasis treated with linear particle accelerator radio-surgery due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness in a resource-limited setting. We showcase the rarity of the metastatic lesions as well as the utility of linear accelerators and their versatility to perform precise radiosurgical procedures in two simultaneous locations.

Successful salvage of recurrent leptomeningeal disease in large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer with stereotactic radiotherapy

A 70-year old male with stage I large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung underwent resection of a metachronous 5 cm brain metastasis and received postoperative hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hfSRT). Five sequential nodular leptomeningeal metastases up to 5.3 cm in diameter were diagnosed on MRI within 10 months and were treated with SRT. Currently the patient has no evidence of intracranial disease 24 months after last irradiation without chemotherapy or whole brain radiotherapy. This is the first report of sustained complete remission of multiple large leptomeningeal metastases achieved with hfSRT, highlighting this brain-sparing approach in selected patients with LCNEC lung cancer.

Outcomes for localized treatment of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung in the United States

Background

Treatment paradigms for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung are based largely upon small retrospective studies and smaller prospective trials. It is unclear if these tumors behave like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Data are lacking with regard to the role of radiotherapy (RT). U. S. guidelines recommend that LCNEC be treated as a NSCLC. We sought to perform a cross-sectional study of LCNEC cases to understand treatment paradigms and outcomes in this disease.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was queried for cases of stage I-III pulmonary LCNEC diagnosed 2004-2013. Treatment groups were defined as no surgery, RT alone, surgery alone, and surgery + RT. The Cox-proportional hazards regression model was used to compare overall survival and cause-specific survival (OS/CSS), stratified by AJCC 6th Staging. Factors that were significant on univariable analysis were included in multivariable analysis.

Results

We identified 1,523 cases of LCNEC, with 748, 177, and 598 cases of stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. In stage I and II disease, RT was associated with improved survival for non-surgical patients, but not for those who underwent surgery. In stage I disease, the adjusted hazard ratios for OS for RT alone, surgery, and surgery + RT were 0.39, 0.21, and 0.22, respectively (P<0.001). In stage II disease, the adjusted hazard ratios for RT alone, surgery, and surgery + RT were 0.51 (P=0.15), 0.39 (P=0.004), and 0.38 (P=0.01), respectively. For patients with stage III disease, RT was associated with improved survival in surgical and non-surgical patients. The adjusted hazard ratios for RT alone, surgery, and surgery + RT were 0.49, 0.43, and 0.36, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that non-metastatic LCNEC may be treated as a NSCLC with respect to RT. Prospective studies are necessary to increase our understanding of optimal treatment regimens.

Pituitary Metastasis of Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report

The pituitary gland is an uncommon site of tumor metastasis in the brain, comprising only 1% of all intracranial metastasis. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is similarly rare, accounting for only 3% of all lung malignancies in adults. We describe a case of LCNEC of lung origin that metastasized to the pituitary gland. The pituitary lesion was found during the workup for a metastatic LCNEC of lung origin in the ovary. Initially thought to be a pituitary adenoma, interval growth of the lesion during imaging follow-up raised clinical suspicion of a second metastatic site. The patient underwent endoscopic resection and pathological examination confirmed the pituitary lesion to be from the lung primary. Post-operatively, the patient developed signs and symptoms of diabetes insipidus that was adequately treated with DDAVP. The patient underwent postoperative radiotherapy one month after the surgery and a repeat MRI at the 12-month follow-up demonstrates no progression of the pituitary lesion.

Temozolomide Combined With Capecitabine In The Treatment Of Mixed Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Of The Lung With Poor Tolerance After Repeated Radiochemotherapy: A Case Report And Literature Review

The incidence of lung neuroendocrine carcinomas, which originate from lung neuroendocrine cells, is 1.35/100,000, among which mixed neuroendocrine carcinomas are very rare. Because of the heterogeneity and significant differences in sensitivity to treatments, there is no effective treatment, and the prognosis is poor. In this article, we report the diagnosis and treatment of a case of mixed neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung in our hospital. During the treatment, the patients had significant myelosuppression after initial chemotherapy, but benefited from oral chemotherapy consisting of a combination of capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM). The report was approved by the affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shandong University.

Brain metastases in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms: risk factors and outcome

Background

Brain metastases (BM) are rarely reported in patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of non-lung origin and neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) or bronchopulmonary system. However, symptomatic brain metastases are associated with dismal prognosis, so early detection and treatment could be advisable.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 51 patients with GEP-NEN and bronchopulmonary NEN excluding small cell lung cancer. All patients were treated at the University Hospital Marburg and Halle (Saale) between 2000 and 2017. The median overall survival (mOS) and mOS after diagnosis of brain metastases (BM) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Risk factors for poor prognosis were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression method.

Results

Overall, 51 patients with a median age of 58 years presented BM. Lung (n = 23, 45.1%) was the most frequent primary localization. Most patients had NEC (n = 31, 60.8%), including 26 carcinomas (51%) with Ki-67 indices > 55%. Singular BM were present in 16 patients (31.4%), but 21 patients (41.2%) had multiple lesions. Overall, the median period from first diagnosis of the tumor disease up to diagnosis of brain metastasis was 5.0 months. Palliative radiation was the most common therapy (n = 31, 60.8%). Median OS after initial diagnosis and diagnosis of BM was 23.0 and 11.0 months, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis for prognostic indicators depicted differentiation (NEC HR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1–16.1) and age (≥60 HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2–7.5) as markers for poor outcome.

Conclusions

Overall, the risk for symptomatic brain metastases is low in GEP-NEN and bronchopulmonary NEN patients. Age above 60 and poor tumor differentiation may deteriorate the overall survival. Therefore, screening for brain metastases could be advisable in NEC patients.

Management of brain metastases from large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung: improved outcomes with radiosurgery

OBJECTIVES

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung is a rare pulmonary tumor, having similar natural history and management strategy as small cell lung cancer. Therefore, the management of brain metastases in these patients has mirrored that of SCLC through the use of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to look at predictors of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and any potential differences in outcomes for patients with brain metastases from LCNEC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We queried the NCDB from 2004 to 2015 for patients with LCNEC of the lung with brain metastases that received brain radiation. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of SRS use and overall survival (OS). Propensity-adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios for survival were used to account for indication bias.

RESULTS

Out of 9970 patients with LCNEC of the lung we identified 348 with brain metastases. Sixty-eight patients were treated with upfront SRS and 280 were treated with WBRT. Patients that were treated at an academic facility or received chemotherapy as part of upfront treatment were more likely to receive SRS. Univariable analysis revealed improved outcomes with SRS compared to WBRT, with a median OS of 11 months compared to 6 months, respectively (p = .007). Multivariable Cox regression with propensity score confirmed SRS to have improved survival (HR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.51-0.91, p = .0093). Multivariable Cox regression with propensity score also identified younger age, receipt of chemotherapy, absence of extracranial disease and non-rural locations as additional predictors of improved OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of brain metastases from LCNEC of the lung with SRS was associated with improved survival. For the appropriate patients, upfront treatment of limited brain metastases with SRS may be appropriate.