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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3788-3795 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2021 |
Keywords
- larynx
- neuroendocrine carcinoma
- palliative therapy
- small cell carcinoma
- smoking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology
MD Anderson CCSG core facilities
- Clinical Trials Office