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Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung with atypical evolution and a remarkable response to lutetium Lu 177 dotatate

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Abstract

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC) is a high-grade, poorly differentiated tumor that typically does not express somatostatin receptors. Thus, it does not benefit from treatment with somatostatin analogs and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). The current study objective was to demonstrate that treatment with PRRT may be a valid option in neuroendocrine carcinomas with high expression of somatostatin receptors. This is a case report of a 58-year-old man who was diagnosed with LCNEC and received chemotherapy treatment with little benefit. Extensive hepatic and bone metastasis was detected on 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy following high uptake of the radionuclide by the tumors. The patient benefitted from neuroendocrine treatment initially and from lutetium Lu 177 dotatate subsequently. A significant clinical and radiological response was observed, along with an improvement in quality of life. The use of PRRT is a valid alternative to chemotherapy in patients with LCNEC involving the expression of somatostin receptors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Roberto A. Escala Cornejo, Miguel Navarro Martin, María García Muñoz & Juan J. Cruz Hernández

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Paloma García-Talavera, Berta Pérez López & Ma. Pilar Tamayo Alonso

Authors
  1. Roberto A. Escala Cornejo
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  2. Paloma García-Talavera
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  3. Miguel Navarro Martin
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  4. Berta Pérez López
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  5. María García Muñoz
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  6. Ma. Pilar Tamayo Alonso
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  7. Juan J. Cruz Hernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberto A. Escala Cornejo.

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Conflict of interest

Roberto A. Escala Cornejo declares that he has no conflict of interest. Paloma García-Talavera declares that he has no conflict of interest. Miguel Navarro Martin declares that he has no conflict of interest. Berta López Pérez declares that he has no conflict of interest. María García Muñoz declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ma. Pilar Tamayo Alonso declares that he has no conflict of interest. Juan J. Cruz Hernández declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Informed consent was obtained from the participant included in the case report.

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Escala Cornejo, R.A., García-Talavera, P., Navarro Martin, M. et al. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung with atypical evolution and a remarkable response to lutetium Lu 177 dotatate. Ann Nucl Med 32, 568–572 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-018-1276-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-018-1276-6

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