Therapeutic approaches and outcomes in patients with larynx or hypopharynx high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single-center retrospective analysis
- PMID: 34524729
- PMCID: PMC8595607
- DOI: 10.1002/hed.26865
Therapeutic approaches and outcomes in patients with larynx or hypopharynx high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single-center retrospective analysis
Abstract
Background: High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx (HG-NECL) is rare and aggressive with limited data regarding response to systemic therapy. We evaluated clinicopathological features, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes in patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal HG-NECL.
Methods: Data were retrospectively collected through 1997-2020. Median disease-free (mDFS), progression-free (mPFS), and overall survival (mOS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: Fifteen patients were identified; most had locoregional (N = 7) or metastatic disease (N = 5). The main curative-intent treatment was chemoradiation concurrent with platinum-based chemotherapy; the rate of complete response was 78%. Most patients (80%) developed recurrence; the mDFS was 13.1 months. For the first-line palliative therapy, the ORR and mPFS were 50% and 3.1 months, respectively. For all patients, the mOS was 17.8 months, and 8.6 months for metastatic disease.
Conclusion: Laryngeal HG-NEC is associated with high relapse rates and dismal prognosis for those with recurrent/metastatic disease. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed.
Keywords: larynx; neuroendocrine carcinoma; palliative therapy; small cell carcinoma; smoking.
© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Conflict of interest statement
Figures



References
-
- El-Naggar JC AK, Takata T, Grandis J, Blootweg P. WHO classification of tumours. Pathology and genetics of head and neck tumours. 4th ed, 2017.
-
- Brambilla E, Travis WD, Colby T, Corrin B, Shimosato Y. The new World Health Organization classification of lung tumours. European respiratory journal. 2001;18: 1059–1068. - PubMed
-
- van der Laan TP, Plaat BE, van der Laan BF, Halmos GB. Clinical recommendations on the treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx: A meta-analysis of 436 reported cases. Head Neck. 2015;37: 707–715. - PubMed
-
- Barnes EL EJ Jr, Reichart P, Sidranksy D Neuroendocrine tumours. Lyon, France: IARC Press, 2005.
-
- van der Laan TP, van der Laan BF, Plaat BE, Wedman J, Van Hemel BM, Halmos GB. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx - an extraordinary malignancy with high recurrence rates and long survival: our experience in 11 patients. Clin Otolaryngol. 2012;37: 63–66. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources