Surgical management of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas: a 10-year experience

OBJECTIVES Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) represents a relatively rare and poorly studied entity whose management is not clearly established. The aim of this study was to assess clinico-pathological characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes of LCNEC. METHODS A retrospective study of patients operated on for LCNEC between 2000 and 2010 was carried out. RESULTS Sixty-three patients (49 men, median age 64 years) with pathologically confirmed LCNEC of the lung were operated on between 2000 and 2010. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 16 cases. Standard lobectomy, sleeve lobectomy, bilobectomy and pneumonectomy were performed in 63.5%, 9.5%, 1.6% and 15.8% of cases. There were two cases of extended resection. Sublobar resections were performed in four patients. Postoperative mortality was 1.6%. Postoperative staging was IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB and IV in 15.9%, 19%, 20.6%, 4.8%, 34.9%, 4.8% and 0% of cases, respectively. Adjuvant treatments were administered in 70% of cases. Overall 5-, and 8- year survival rates were 49.2% (37-61.6%) and 42% (28.8-56.4%), respectively. Multivariate analysis, including age >64 years, cumulative tobacco consumption, size of tumour, pT and pN parameters showed that only age (P = 0.05, RR 2.1 [0.99-4.43]) and pT parameter (P = 0.0078, RR 2.93[1.33-6.46]) were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS Surgery may achieve satisfactory results in terms of survival, in spite of the similarities of LCNEC with small cell lung cancer. Multimodality management seems necessary.