BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, clinicopathologic characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes in lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with lung LCNEC between 2000 and 2013 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results database. Kaplan–Meier methods and univariate and multivariate analyses were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 2097 patients were identified. The total age-adjusted incidence rate of lung LCNEC was 0.3/100 000, with a rise in incidence over the study period. The 5-year lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) were 20.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that age ³65 years, male sex, advanced tumor stage, advanced nodal stage, not undergoing surgery. and not undergoing chemotherapy were independent adverse indicators for survival outcomes. After stratification by tumor stage, undergoing surgery was associated with more favorable LCSS and OS compared with those without surgery, regardless of tumor stage.

CONCLUSIONS: LCNEC is a rare lung cancer subtype with a dismal prognosis. Primary surgical treatment has significant survival benefits, even for stage IV patients. The optimal treatment strategies for lung LCNEC require further investigation.

Keywords: Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma, Large Cell, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine, Incidence, SEER Program, United States