BACKGROUND: Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the pancreas is a rare entity, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) in SCC of the pancreas. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of four patients diagnosed with SCC among 279 patients with malignant pancreatic tumors treated between 2000 and 2007. All patients were treated with combination chemotherapy using a schedule consisting of intravenous (IV) carboplatin (150 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and IV etoposide (80 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 2, and 3 every 28 days. RESULTS: Pathological diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in all patients. Three patients treated with the combination chemotherapy achieved remission, two with a complete response and one with a partial response. The remaining one patient showed no change. One of the two patients with a complete response survived for 56 months following the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapy with CE may be effective for the treatment of SCC of the pancreas; EUS-FNA plays an important role in distinguishing SCC from other pancreatic malignancies, leading to the appropriate treatment being given.
BACKGROUND:Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the pancreas is a rare entity, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) in SCC of the pancreas. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of four patients diagnosed with SCC among 279 patients with malignant pancreatic tumors treated between 2000 and 2007. All patients were treated with combination chemotherapy using a schedule consisting of intravenous (IV) carboplatin (150 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and IV etoposide (80 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 2, and 3 every 28 days. RESULTS: Pathological diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in all patients. Three patients treated with the combination chemotherapy achieved remission, two with a complete response and one with a partial response. The remaining one patient showed no change. One of the two patients with a complete response survived for 56 months following the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapy with CE may be effective for the treatment of SCC of the pancreas; EUS-FNA plays an important role in distinguishing SCC from other pancreatic malignancies, leading to the appropriate treatment being given.
Authors: D V Skarlos; E Samantas; P Kosmidis; G Fountzilas; M Angelidou; P Palamidas; N Mylonakis; A Provata; E Papadakis; G Klouvas Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 1994-09 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: T Morikawa; S Kobayashi; I Yamadori; T Okino; E Hirakawa; A Kurose; M Ohmori; M Kobayashi Journal: Indian J Cancer Date: 1994-12 Impact factor: 1.224
Authors: Jordan M Winter; Amol K Narang; Aaron S Mansfield; Joseph M Herman; John L Cameron; Dan Laheru; Fred E Eckhauser; Mathew T Olson; Ralph H Hruban; Robert C Miller; Dana K Andersen Journal: Rare Tumors Date: 2011-03-30