EP1.12-40 Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lung: Clinico-Pathological Characterization and Follow-Up of Patients Treated at an Argentinean University Hospital in the Last 10 Years

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) comprise a heterogeneous group of malignancies that arise from neuroendocrine cells throughout the body, most commonly from the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Histological characteristics and clinical behaviour define lung NETs, which are classified into four groups: typical (TC) and atypical carcinoids (AC), large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The identification and differentiation of TCs from ACs or LCNECs and SCLC is essential for treatment options and prognosis. We performed a retrospective review of patients with lung NETs treated in our institution in the last decade. We analysed histological confirmed primary lung NETs cases. Demographics, clinical characteristics, imaging, treatment and outcome are described for this patient population. A total of 91 patients with lung NETs were included; 28/91 (30.8%) were lung carcinoids (TC:14 and AT: 14) and 63/91 (69.2%) were high grade lung NETs (SCLC: 54 and LCNC: 9). Comparing low and high grade NETs groups of patients, we could identify differences in the following variables: mean age at diagnosis (51±14 vs 61 ±9 years, p=0.000), mean time from the beginning of symptoms to achievement of pathologic diagnosis (10.5±15.9 vs 3.9 ± 2.6 months, p=0.002), ECOG³2 (14% vs 42%, p=0.001), smokers (57% vs 95%, p=0.000), median % of Ki67 expression (4%, (1-30%) vs 50%, (20-90), p=0.000), history of inflammatory lung disease (18% vs 32%, p=0.028) and presence extra-thoracic disease at diagnosis (47% vs 68%, p=0.000). No statistically differences between groups were observed in: sex, family history of lung cancer, second diagnosis of cancer and body mass index at diagnosis. Functioning carcinoid syndrome was observed in 10% (3/28) of patients with lung carcinoids. For the entire cohort, the median overall survival (OS) was 19 months (IC95%: 14-24 months). The five year OS for patients with lung carcinoids was 62% and 13% for high grade NETs. In our series of lung carcinoids we observed a high frequency of: atypical carcinoids, advanced disease at presentation and smoking history. However, the 5-year overall survival is the expected for this population. More knowledge is needed about this entity in South American countries.