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.