First-line cisplatin plus etoposide in high-grade metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of colon and rectum (MCRC NET): review of 8 cases.

BACKGROUND The combination of cisplatin and etoposide is effective in the treatment of small cell lung carcinomas and other high-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NET). This combination has been considered as a default treatment for patients with high-grade NET of the colon and rectum (CRC). No formal series has yet described the activity of this regimen in this patient population. A retrospective study assessing the efficacy of cisplatin plus etoposide in metastatic CRC (MCRC) NET is reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS MCRC NET patients treated with cisplatin and etoposide were identified through the use of pharmacy and tumor registry records from a single institute for the period of 2003-2010. Responses of the identified patients were categorized using RECIST 1.1 (revised response evaluation criteria in solid tumors) guidelines. RESULTS Eight patients were identified with high-grade CRC NET who had been treated with cisplatin plus etoposide. One patient had a radiographic complete response and four had a partial response. The median progression-free survival was 4.5 months (2-9 months) and the median overall survival was 9.5 months (3.5-17 months). CONCLUSION Patients with high-grade CRC NET have a high response rate to cisplatin and etoposide, which in most patients is short-lived, and the survival is limited to less than 1 year.