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Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma--a medical center's experience
Tai-Lin Huang1, Cheng-Hua Huang, Yeh Tang
1Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chang Gung Medical Journal
|February 17, 2007
Summary
Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) shows aggressive behavior, with limited disease (LD) patients responding to chemotherapy but experiencing recurrence. Extensive disease (ED) patients have poor prognoses, though head and neck EPSCC offers a better outlook.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
- Clinical Pathology
Background:
- Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) is a rare malignancy.
- Understanding its biologic behavior, therapy, and natural course is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and survival patterns of patients diagnosed with EPSCC.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing the course of EPSCC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 20 patients diagnosed with EPSCC between 1986 and 2005.
- Inclusion criteria required pathologically confirmed SCC outside the lung and normal chest imaging/cytology.
Main Results:
- 60% of patients had limited disease (LD); chemotherapy yielded a 73% response rate but rapid recurrence (median DFS 8 months).
- Extensive disease (ED) patients receiving etoposide-cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy had a 50% response rate.
- Median overall survival (OS) was 22 months for LD and 3 months for ED.
- Head and neck EPSCC had a favorable median OS of 43 months, versus 15.5 months for other sites.
Conclusions:
- Integrated therapy (chemoradiotherapy with surgery) for LD EPSCC offers realistic survival.
- EP-based chemotherapy is recommended for ED EPSCC.
- EPSCC outside the head and neck region is associated with poor outcomes.
