Low to intermediate grade lung neuroendocrine tumours. A single centre real world experience

Lung neuroendocrine tumours (LNETs) are a rare heterogenous group of tumours whose incidence has been increasing. We investigated the diagnosis, treatment, and survival patterns of patients with low to intermediate grade LNETs.

A retrospective chart review of patients with low to intermediate grade LNETs, treated at a Canadian tertiary-level cancer centre was performed.

We identified 59 patients. Most were G1or G2 and well or moderately differentiated. Forty-seven patients presented with local or locally advanced disease, of which 57.4 % received curative intent surgery. The rest were treated with definitive radiation, radical chemoradiation with platinum and etoposide, palliative chemotherapy with doxorubicin, or supportive care. The five-year overall survival (OS) for those treated surgically was 83 % versus 44 % in the non-surgical group. Metastatic disease was seen in 24/59 patients, with a five-year OS in patients with stage IV disease of 39 %. Of those with advanced or unresectable disease (n = 32), 21 received palliative systemic treatment with up to three lines of therapy. First-line treatment was most commonly chemotherapy with platinum/etoposide combination or somatostatin analogue therapy. Second-line treatment involved chemotherapy or targeted everolimus. PRRT was used once as a first-line and once as second-line therapy. Third-line included lanreotide or chemotherapy with capecitabine/temozolomide combination.

Overall, patients with surgically resectable disease had a good five-year OS. However, inoperable or more advanced disease was associated with a poorer OS. Despite many treatment options, the sequence of treatments is poorly established. This highlights the need for further development and dissemination of evidence-based guidelines for LNET patients.