Small Cell Carcinoma Research Articles

A comparison of the outcomes of pulmonary versus extrapulmonary extensive-stage small cell carcinoma.

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (EPSCCs) are rare cancers, comprising 0.1-0.4% of all cancers. The scarcity of EPSCC studies has led current treatment strategies to be extrapolated from small cell lung cancer (SCLC), justified by analogous histological and clinical features. We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing the outcomes of extensive-stage (ES) SCLC and EPSCC. Patients diagnosed with ES SCLC or EPSCC between 2010 and 2020 from four hospitals in Sydney were identified. Patients who received active treatment and best supportive care were included. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rates (ORRs). Three hundred and eighty-four patients were included (43 EPSCC vs. 340 SCLC). EPSCC were of genitourinary (n = 15), unknown primary (n = 13) and gastrointestinal (n = 12) origin. Treatment modalities for EPSCC compared to SCLC included palliative chemotherapy (56% vs 73%), palliative radiotherapy (47% vs 59%) and consolidation chest radiotherapy (10% of SCLC). Overall, median OS was 6.4 versus 7 months for EPSCC versus SCLC respectively, but highest in prostate EPSCC (25.6 months). Of those who received chemotherapy (22 EPSCC vs 233 SCLC), median OS was 10.4 versus 8.4 months (HR OS 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5-1.31, P = 0.38); PFS was 5.4 versus 5.5 months (HR PFS 0.93, 95% CI: 0.58-1.46, P = 0.74) and ORR were 73% versus 68%. EPSCC and SCLC appeared to have comparable OS and treatment outcomes. However, the wide range of OS in EPSCC highlights the need for an improved understanding of its genomics to explore alternative therapeutics.

Enhancing diagnosis: the role of endocytoscopy in diagnosing small esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Enhancing diagnosis: the role of endocytoscopy in diagnosing small esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Pre-treatment Evaluation of Patients Eligible for Whole Brain Radiation Therapy: The Risk of Hippocampal Metastases in a Retrospective Study of 248 Cases at a Single Institution.

Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is effective for multiple brain metastases (BMs) but may impair neurocognitive function (NCF). The incidence of hippocampal metastasis (HM) is low, and the factors associated with the occurrence of HM remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of limbic system metastasis (LSM), including HM, and to analyze the risk of HM. We retrospectively analyzed 248 patients who underwent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for BMs between May 2008 and October 2015. Gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI or CT scans were used for diagnosis. Statistical analysis involved assessing clinical factors, including age, gender, primary tumor, number of BMs, and maximum metastasis diameter, in relation to the presence of HMs using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The median age at treatment was 62 years (range: 11-83 years). Primary lesion sites included the lung (n = 150; 60.5%), breast (n = 45; 18.1%), gastrointestinal tract (n = 18; 7.3%), and bone and soft tissue (n = 2; 0.8%). Histological cancer types included adenocarcinoma (n = 113; 45.6%), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 26; 10.5%), small cell carcinoma (n = 28; 11.3%), invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 35; 14.1%), sarcoma (n = 3; 1.2%), and others (n = 43; 17.3%). MRI or CT scans of the 248 patients were analyzed, indicating a total count of 2,163 brain metastases (median: five metastases per patient). HMs were identified in 18 (7.3%) patients. The most common location for LSMswas the cingulum/cingulate gyrus in 26 (10.5%) patients. In univariate and multivariate analyses, patients with 15 or fewer BMs had a significantly lower incidence of HMs (odds ratio (OR), 0.018 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.030-0.24)) (p < 0.0001). A maximal tumor size of less than 2cm significantly increased the incidence of HMs (OR, 13.8 (95%CI, 1.80-105.3)) (p = 0.0003). The presence of cingulum/cingulate gyrus metastases also demonstrated a significant increase in the incidence of HMs (OR, 9.42 (95%CI, 3.30-26.84)) (p < 0.0001). The present study has uncovered a novel association between a high number of metastases in the cingulate gyrus and the development of HMs. Patients with BMs eligible for WBRT with metastases in the cingulate gyrus may be at risk of developing HM.

Elucidating diagnostic efficacy and safety of the procedure: cryobiopsy of endobronchial lesions with a flexible bronchoscope

When compared to conventional forceps biopsy, the use of a flexible cryoprobe allows for the sampling of endobronchial lesions, yielding well-preserved, circumferential, and substantial specimens, resulting in a higher diagnostic yield, as demonstrated in multiple studies. We evaluated the utility of cryobiopsy in the diagnosis of endobronchial lesions as well as its safety profile in this study. This retrospective study included 200 patients who underwent cryobiopsy for bronchoscopically visible endobronchial lesions between March 2016 and July 2022. Cryobiopsy was performed under conscious sedation using a flexible cryoprobe. Data on baseline patient characteristics, post-biopsy bleeding, and final histopathological diagnosis were collected. We evaluated the procedure's diagnostic yield and safety. The majority of the patients were male (84.5%) and the mean age of the patients was 56.96±13.64 years. In our study, the average size of cryobiopsy specimen was 6.8±1.2 mm. In 93% of cases, a definitive diagnosis was established; the most common diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (42.5%), followed by adenocarcinoma (18.5%) and small cell carcinoma (13.5%). Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis were reported in 2.5% and 1% of cases, respectively. In this study, 1% of patients had severe bleeding that required intubation and ICU admission, while 26% had moderate bleeding that was treated with cold saline and local epinephrine instillation. No mortality was reported in the study. Endobronchial cryobiopsy with a flexible bronchoscope is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield. This approach, which has a favorable safety profile, holds the promise of improving diagnostic and treatment outcomes in lung cancer and other benign lung diseases.

Case series of ovarian neuroendocrine carcinoma: overview of clinicopathological features

BackgroundOvarian neuroendocrine carcinoma (O-NEC) is a relatively uncommon neoplasm, and the current knowledge regarding its diagnosis and management is limited. In this series, our objective was to provide an overview of the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease by analyzing clinical case data to establish a theoretical foundation for the diagnosis and management of O-NEC.Case presentationWe included three patients in the present case series, all of whom were diagnosed with primary O-NEC based on pathomorphological observation and immunohistochemistry. Patient 1 was a 62-year-old patient diagnosed with small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the pulmonary type. Post-surgery, the patient was diagnosed with stage II SCC of the ovary and underwent standardized chemotherapy; however, imaging examinations conducted at the 16-month follow-up revealed the existence of lymph node metastasis. Unfortunately, she passed away 21 months after the surgery. The other two patients were diagnosed with carcinoid tumors, one at age 39 and the other at age 71. Post-surgery, patient 2 was diagnosed with a carcinoid in the left ovary, whereas patient 3 was diagnosed with a carcinoid in her right ovary based on clinical evaluation. Neither of the cases received adjuvant therapy following surgery; however, they have both survived for 9 and 10 years, respectively, as of date.ConclusionPrimary O-NECs are rare and of diverse histological types, each of which has its own unique biological features and prognosis. SCC is a neoplasm characterized by high malignancy and a poor prognosis, whereas carcinoid tumors are of lesser malignancy and have a more favorable prognosis.

CTIM-30. A PHASE 1B, OPEN-LABEL, DOSE-ESCALATION TRIAL OF THE DELTA-LIKE LIGAND 3 (DLL3)/CD3 IGG-LIKE T CELL ENGAGER, BI 764532, IN PATIENTS WITH DLL3-POSITIVE GLIOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND Patients with progressive diffuse gliomas have limited treatment options. DLL3, a Notch ligand, is expressed on most diffuse gliomas. BI 764532, a humanized IgG-like T cell engager, binds selectively to DLL3-positive cells and promotes T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Preclinical data showed activity of BI 764532 against intracranial tumors. In an ongoing first-in-human trial in patients with DLL3-positive small-cell lung carcinoma and other neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) including extrapulmonary NECs and large-cell NECs of the lung (NCT04429087), BI 764532 exhibited promising efficacy and manageable tolerability. Here we describe a planned Phase Ib dose-escalation/expansion trial of BI 764532 monotherapy in patients with DLL3-positive refractory/relapsed diffuse glioma. METHODS The dose-escalation part will include ~12–20 patients (≥3 patients per dose level) from 12 sites across Europe/USA. Dose escalation will be guided by Bayesian logistic regression model with overdose control. BI 764532 will be administered intravenously. Treatment will continue until disease progression, undue toxicity, informed consent withdrawn, or other reasons requiring treatment discontinuation. Once a recommended dose for expansion is established, ~15 patients from Europe will be treated in a dose-expansion phase. Key inclusion criteria: ≥18 years old; histologically confirmed primary progressive diffuse glioma who have failed on standard-of-care therapies; DLL3-positivity by IHC on archived tumor tissue by central pathology review. Key exclusion criteria: extracranial metastatic or leptomeningeal disease; previous treatment with DLL3-targeting therapies; prior treatment with bevacizumab/other anti-VEGF/anti-angiogenic treatment ≤6 months prior to first administration of BI 764532; persistent toxicity from previous treatments that has not resolved to ≤CTCAE Grade 1; diagnosis of immunodeficiency, or intake of immunosuppressive therapy ≤7 days prior to first administration of BI 764532. Primary endpoints: dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during the maximum tolerated dose evaluation period (escalation phase); DLTs during the entire treatment period (expansion phase). Other objectives include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, preliminary efficacy and evaluation of DLL3 as a potential biomarker.

CNSC-02. GLUTAMATERGIC SYNAPTIC INPUT DRIVES BRAIN METASTASIS OF BREAST CANCER AND MELANOMA

Abstract The nervous system is implicated in pathology of both cranial and extracranial cancers. In glioblastoma, direct excitatory glutamatergic synapses between neurons and cancer cells were discovered. Importantly, these neuron-cancer contacts drive glioblastoma proliferation and invasion. However, such synapses have not yet been documented in other types of brain cancer. In the context of brain metastases, indirect, peri-synaptic contacts between breast cancer cells and neurons were observed, which promote brain metastatic growth through glutamatergic signaling via NMDA receptors on the neoplastic cells. Recently, two studies have demonstrated that neuronal activity supports the growth of both the primary tumor and brain metastases from neuroendocrine carcinoma small cell lung cancer. In the work presented here, we demonstrate direct neuron-cancer synapses in early-stage brain metastases originating from breast cancer and melanoma. These synapses exhibited the typical structural features observed in synaptic connections and induced postsynaptic currents in the cancer cells through the activation of AMPA subtype glutamate receptors. Importantly, genetic and pharmacological perturbation of these receptors reduces the number of brain metastases and the overall metastatic burden in preclinical models of breast cancer and melanoma. These results uncover a previously unknown form of direct communication between neurons and brain-metastatic breast cancer and melanoma tumor cells. This neuronal-tumor synaptic interaction demonstrates the significance of the neuronal microenvironment in the early stages of the brain metastatic cascade. Furthermore, it unveils a potential therapeutic vulnerability associated with the neuronal microenvironment, suggesting that targeting the synaptic communication between neurons and cancer cells could be a promising strategy to impede the progression of brain metastases.

A quantitative evaluation method utilizing the homology concept to assess the state of chromatin within the nucleus of lung cancer

Homology is a mathematical tool to quantify "the contact degree", which can be expressed in terms of Betti numbers. The Betti numbers used in this study consisted of two numbers, b0 (a zero-dimensional Betti number) and b1 (a one-dimensional Betti number). We developed a chromatin homology profile (CHP) method to quantify the chromatin contact degree based on this mathematical tool. Using the CHP method we analyzed the number of holes (surrounded areas = b1 value) formed by the chromatin contact and calculated the maximum value of b1 (b1MAX), the value of b1 exceeding 5 for the first time or Homology Value (HV), and the chromatin density (b1MAX/ns2). We attempted to detect differences in chromatin patterns and differentiate histological types of lung cancer from respiratory cytology using these three features. The HV of cancer cells was significantly lower than that of non-cancerous cells. Furthermore, b1MAX and b1MAX/ns2 showed significant differences between small cell and non-small cell carcinomas and between adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, respectively. We quantitatively analyzed the chromatin patterns using homology and showed that the CHP method may be a useful tool for differentiating histological types of lung cancer in respiratory cytology.

Quantitative Measurement on Contrast-Enhanced CT Distinguishes Small Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma From Benign Renal Tumors: A Multicenter Study

To evaluate the potential of quantitative measurements on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) in differentiating small (≤4cm) clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from benign renal tumors, including fat-poor angiomyolipoma (fpAML) and renal oncocytoma (RO). 244 patients with pathologically confirmed ccRCC (n=184) and benign renal tumors (fpAML, n=50; RO, n=10) were randomly assigned into training cohort (n=193) and test cohort 1 (n=51), while external test cohort 2 (n=50) was from another hospital. Quantitative parameters were obtained from CECT (unenhanced phase, UP; corticomedullary phase, CMP; nephrographic phase, NP; excretory phase, EP) by measuring attenuation of renal mass and cortex and subsequently calculated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between these parameters and ccRCC. Finally, the constructed models were compared with radiologists' diagnoses. In univariable analysis, UP-related parameters, particularly UPC-T (cortex minus tumor attenuation on UP), demonstrated AUC of 0.766 in training cohort, 0.901 in test cohort 1, 0.805 in test cohort 2. The heterogeneity-related parameter SD (standard deviation) showed AUC of 0.781, 0.834, and 0.875 respectively. In multivariable analysis, model 1 incorporating UPC-T, NPC-T (cortex minus tumor attenuation on NP), CMPT-UPT (tumor attenuation on CMP minus UP), and SD yielded AUC of 0.866, 0.923, and 0.949 respectively. When compared with radiologists, multivariate models demonstrated higher accuracy (0.800-0.860) and sensitivity (0.794-0.971) than radiologists' assessments (accuracy: 0.700-0.720, sensitivity: 0.588-0.706). Quantitative measurements on CECT, particularly UP- and heterogeneity-related parameters, have potential to discriminate ccRCC and benign renal tumors (fpAML, RO).

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (Siadh) in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in both men and women. Lung cancer is generally divided into 2, categories: small-cell lung carcinoma and non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents approximately 15% of all lung cancers. Paraneoplastic syndromes occur in 10% of lung cancer cases and constitute a group of disorders associated with the secretion of functional polypeptides or hormones from tumor cells. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone is a paraneoplastic syndrome that is closely related to SCLC and is associated with worse survival. The key to understanding SIADH is that the hyponatremia that occurs in this syndrome is not caused by Na+ deficiency but rather by excess fluid. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone that occurs is a secondary event caused by the release of antidiuretic hormone due to tumor lysis or because the tumor releases ectopic ADH. Hyponatremia in SCLC is a negative prognostic factor in hospitalized patients and patients with advanced disease

Dedifferentiated and Undifferentiated Ovarian Carcinoma: An Aggressive and Molecularly Distinct Ovarian Tumor Characterized by Frequent SWI/SNF Complex Inactivation

Dedifferentiated and undifferentiated ovarian carcinomas (DDOC/UDOC) are rare neoplasms defined by the presence of an undifferentiated carcinoma. In this study, we detailed the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of a series of DDOC/UDOC. We collected a multi-institutional cohort of 23 DDOC/UDOC and performed immunohistochemistry for core switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex proteins (ARID1A, ARID1B, SMARCA4, and SMARCB1), mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, and p53. Array-based genome-wide DNA methylation and copy number variation analyses were performed on a subset of cases with comparison made to a previously reported cohort of undifferentiated endometrial carcinoma (UDEC), small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), and tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). The age of all 23 patients with DDOC/UDOC ranged between 22 and 71 years (with an average age of 50 years), and a majority of them presented with extraovarian disease (16/23). Clinical follow-up was available for 19 patients. Except for 2 patients, the remaining 17 patients died from disease, with rapid disease progression resulting in mortality within a year in stage II–IV settings (median disease-specific survival of 3 months). Eighteen of 22 cases with interpretable immunohistochemistry results showed loss of expression of core SWI/SNF protein(s) that are expected to result in SWI/SNF complex inactivation as 10 exhibited coloss of ARID1A and ARID1B, 7 loss of SMARCA4, and 1 loss of SMARCB1. Six of 23 cases were MMR-deficient. Two of 20 cases exhibited mutation-type p53 immunoreactivity. Methylation profiles showed coclustering of DDOC/UDOC with UDEC, which collectively were distinct from SCCOHT and HGSC. However, DDOC/UDOC showed an intermediate degree of copy number variation, which was slightly greater, compared with SCCOHT but much less compared with HGSC. Overall, DDOC/UDOC, like its endometrial counterpart, is highly aggressive and is characterized by frequent inactivation of core SWI/SNF complex proteins and MMR deficiency. Its molecular profile overlaps with UDEC while being distinct from SCCOHT and HGSC.

Association Between Patient Characteristics and Histopathological Features of Lung Cancer At RSUP Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Palembang

Introduction. Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells by the body in lung tissue and is caused by genetic mutations and changes in protein synthesis in normal cells. Histopathological features of lung cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and other types. Early detection, as well as prevention, needs to be done in high-risk communities with the aim of reducing the number of events. This study aims to determine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and histopathological features of lung cancer. Methods. This study is an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design. The research sample is in the form of secondary data from the Department of Anatomical Pathology and Medical Record Installation for 2019-2021. The research was conducted at Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Palembang. The sampling technique was carried out by total sampling. Results. Most of the respondents were in the age group &gt;45 years (84.1%), male (78.3%), had no history of smoking (60.9%), the predominant main complaint was shortness of breath (63, 8%), the most common histopathological picture is adenocarcinoma. There was no significant relationship between age (p=0.998), gender (p=0.736), smoking history (p=0.572) and histopathological features of lung cancer patients. Conclusion. There was no significant relationship between age, sex and smoking status on the histopathological features of lung cancer.

Urinary tract cytology showing variant morphology and divergent differentiation.

Urothelial carcinoma represents a diverse group of tumours with distinct histologic subtypes, each exhibiting unique cytomorphologic features, architectural growth patterns, and/or well-developed aberrant differentiation. In fact, there are more than 13 subtypes of urothelial carcinoma recognized in the 2022 WHO classification of tumours in the urinary tract. The identification of these subtypes is crucial for an accurate diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma, and many have important clinical implications. Variant/divergent features may coexist with conventional high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) or present with 100% variant morphology. In urinary tract cytology (UTC), urothelial carcinoma can display divergent differentiation, such as squamous, glandular, or small cell carcinoma differentiation. The use of cell block preparations and immunohistochemistry with available residual urine can enhance diagnostic accuracy. On the other hand, identifying urothelial carcinoma variants, including nested, micropapillary, and plasmacytoid subtypes, poses significant challenges in UTC. Many cases of these variants are only detected retrospectively after variant histology has been established from resection specimens. Moreover, some variants exhibit features inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria for HGUC according to the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Tract Cytology. Nevertheless, the rarity of pure variant morphology and the occurrence of some false negatives for these variant cases are essential to maintain the specificity of UTC overall. This review covers the histology, cytomorphology, and important clinical aspects observed in urothelial carcinoma exhibiting divergent differentiation and various urothelial carcinoma variants detected in UTC.

EP13.05-03 A Comparison of the Outcomes of Pulmonary versus Extrapulmonary Extensive Stage Small Cell Carcinoma

EP13.05-03 A Comparison of the Outcomes of Pulmonary versus Extrapulmonary Extensive Stage Small Cell Carcinoma

Palliative radiotherapy is effective for both well- and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms.

The outcomes of palliative radiation therapy (RT) for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are seldom reported. We investigated outcomes following palliative radiotherapy in a cohort of patients with NENs. We hypothesised that well-differentiated NEN will be less likely to have a clinical response than poorly differentiated NEN. Patients who received at least one course of palliative RT were identified using the New Zealand NETwork! Registry. Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, pulmonary small cell carcinoma or asymptomatic patients were excluded. Clinical response to RT within 90 days and overall survival were analysed alongside clinical variables (fractionation, RT site, tumour differentiation and tumour primary site). The cohort comprised 79 patients, with 147 courses of palliative RT delivered. Clinical response was measurable for 100 courses, with clinical response rate of 76%. A course delivered to a well-differentiated NEN was associated with 2.02-fold (95% CI 0.67, 6.12; P = 0.21) increase in odds of a clinical response compared to a poorly differentiated NEN. Median overall survival from the first fraction of RT was 94 days (95% CI 80, 138 days). Overall survival was higher in well-differentiated NEN than in poorly differentiated NEN (HR 0.2, 95% CI 0.10-0.40, P-value < 0.001); 30-day mortality was 7%. There were significantly reduced odds of clinical response for non-bone sites, and for courses >10 fractions compared to a single fraction. Palliative RT is an appropriate option for management of symptoms in patients with both well- and poorly differentiated metastatic NEN.

Applying HDACis to increase SSTR2 expression and radiolabeled DOTA-TATE uptake: from cells to mice

AimsThe aim of our study was to determine the effect of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACis) on somatostatin type-2 receptor (SSTR2) expression and [111In]In-/[177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE uptake in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methodsThe human cell lines NCI-H69 (small-cell lung carcinoma) and BON-1 (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor) were treated with HDACis (i.e. entinostat, mocetinostat (MOC), LMK-235, CI-994 or panobinostat (PAN)), and SSTR2 mRNA expression levels and [111In]In-DOTA-TATE uptake were measured. Furthermore, vehicle- and HDACi-treated NCI-H69 and BON-1 tumor-bearing mice were injected with radiolabeled DOTA-TATE followed by biodistribution studies. Additionally, SSTR2 and HDAC mRNA expression of xenografts, and of NCI-H69, BON-1, NCI-H727 (human pulmonary carcinoid) and GOT1 (human midgut neuroendocrine tumor) cells were determined. Key findingsHDACi treatment resulted in the desired effects in vitro. However, no significant increase in tumoral DOTA-TATE uptake was observed after HDACi treatment in NCI-H69 tumor-bearing animals, whereas tumoral SSTR2 mRNA and/or protein expression levels were significantly upregulated after treatment with MOC, CI-994 and PAN, i.e. a maximum of 2.1- and 1.3-fold, respectively. Analysis of PAN-treated BON-1 xenografts solely demonstrated increased SSTR2 mRNA expression levels. Comparison of HDACs and SSTR2 expression in BON-1 and NCI-H69 xenografts showed a significantly higher expression of 6/11 HDACs in BON-1 xenografts. Of these HDACs, a significant inverse correlation was found between HDAC3 and SSTR2 expression (Pearson r = −0.92) in the studied cell lines. SignificanceTo conclude, tumoral uptake levels of radiolabeled DOTA-TATE were not enhanced after HDACi treatment in vivo, but, depending on the applied inhibitor, increased SSTR2 expression levels were observed.

Pathologically confirmed spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer after computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy followed by surgery

BackgroundSpontaneous regression of malignant tumors is a rare phenomenon, especially in primary lung cancer. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, but they may often involve immunological mechanisms.Case presentationIn January 2020, a 78-year-old female underwent examination during follow-up of interstitial pneumonia. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 1.2 × 1.2 cm nodule in the left lower lobe. Based on CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB), it was diagnosed as small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Immunohistochemical staining showed that tumor cells were positive for CD56, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A. Twenty-three days after the CT-guided PTNB, repeat CT scan showed that the tumor size regressed to 0.6 × 0.6 cm. The tumor showed positive uptake in fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)–CT. The maximum standardized uptake value of the nodule was 2.24. PET–CT and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed no distant or lymph node metastasis. The patient’s preoperative disease was diagnosed as cT1aN0M0, stageIA1, SCLC. In March 2020, she underwent left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed that the small tumor cells were dense with a high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, and the morphological diagnosis was small cell carcinoma. The resected tumor size regressed to 0.05 × 0.02 cm, and no lymph node metastasis was observed. Because it was extremely small, immunohistochemical staining could not be conducted. Active fibrosis and inflammation were present around the tumor. Finally, the patient was pathologically diagnosed as SCLC pT1miN0M0, stage IA1. The patient is alive without recurrence 23 months after surgery with no adjuvant therapy.ConclusionsWe present a rare surgical case of pathologically confirmed spontaneous regression of SCLC after CT-guided PTNB. Although spontaneous regression is extremely rare, we should recognize this phenomenon.

Population-Based Survival Analysis of Stage IVB Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in Comparison to Major Histological Subtypes of Cervical Cancer.

The aim of the current study is to investigate the survival outcome of stage IVB SCNEC of the uterine cervix in comparison to major histological subtypes of cervical cancer. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Osaka Cancer Registry data from 1994 to 2018. All FIGO 2009 stage IVB cervical cancer patients who displayed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (A), adenosquamous cell carcinoma (AS), or small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) were first identified. The patients were classified into groups according to the types of primary treatment. Then, their survival rates were examined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Overall, in a total of 1158 patients, clearly differential survival rates were observed according to the histological subtypes, and SCNEC was associated with shortest survival. When examined according to the types of primary treatments, SCNEC was associated with significantly decreased survival when compared to SCC or A/AS, except for those treated with surgery. In patients with FIGO 2009 stage IVB cervical cancer, SCNEC was associated with decreased survival when compared to SCC or A/AS. Although current treatments with either surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy have some therapeutic efficacies, to improve the prognosis, novel effective treatments specifically targeting cervical SCNEC need to be developed.

Combined renal small cell carcinoma: an extremely rare and unexpected case.

Combined renal small cell carcinoma: an extremely rare and unexpected case.

Effect of chemotherapy alone or combined with immunotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic genitourinary small cell carcinoma: a real-world retrospective study

BackgroundGenitourinary small cell carcinoma is rare, and has a poor prognosis. However, effective treatment options for this disease are limited. We present a study to assess the efficacy of chemotherapy alone or combined with immunotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic genitourinary small cell carcinoma (GSCC).MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients with locally advanced or metastatic GSCC from Jan 2013 to September 2022 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The survival and safety profiles were analyzed.ResultsForty-two GSCC patients were enrolled, which included 20 with chemotherapy plus immunotherapy and 22 with chemotherapy alone. The median follow-up time was 15.13 months (95% CI, 8.84–21.42). The addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy demonstrated no significant difference in median progression-free survival (p = 0.37). However, the median overall survival (OS) was 22.97 and 14.03 months with immunotherapy plus chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone, respectively (HR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.08–0.55, p = 0.017). Two patients with immunotherapy plus chemotherapy achieved clinical complete remission. The overall response rate for patients receiving chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy was 65%, which was higher in comparison to those treated with chemotherapy alone (50%). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy independently achieved favorable OS. Four patients experienced immunotherapy-related adverse events, with one developing grade 3 hypothyroidism.ConclusionsAmong patients with locally advanced or metastatic GSCC, immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy might be thought of as a potentially effective treatment option for patients with GSCC.