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.