High-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support in neuroendocrine carcinoma

Neuroendocrine carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) are highly respo nsive to chemo- and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, most patients (pts.) experi ence relapse. At the 2(nd) department of medicine in the Donauspital, 4 pts . with neuroendocrine carcinomas of different primary sites underwent high- dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASTx). Pt. 1 s uffered from neuroendocrine lung cancer, pt. 2 from a small-cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Pt. 3 had a metastatic small-cell abdominal bulky tumor an d pt. 4 presented with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate. After 4-6 cycles induction chemotherapy pts. were con solidated with 1 cycle of HDCht and ASTx. Prior to HDCht pt. 1 and pt. 2 were in complete remission (CR) a nd pt. 3 and pt. 4 in partial remission. Pt. 3 converted in CR after HDCht. He is still in CR with a disease-free survival of 23 month after ASTx and 30 month after diagnosis. Pt. 1, 2 and 4 died from relapse 10, 16 and 5 mon th after ASTx and 16, 22 and 9 month after diagnosis. Pts. with neuroendocr ine carcinomas might be suitable candidates for HDCht and ASTx.