Phase II Trial of Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Etoposide in Advanced Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network Study

Abstract

This prospective phase II trial provides additional evidence that this family of relatively uncommon carcinomas is initially chemosensitive, with a high overall response rate to combination chemotherapy and a minority of complete responses. The three-drug regimen evaluated in this trial is moderately toxic, and has no obvious efficacy advantages when compared with standard platinum/etoposide regimens. Treatment for advanced poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma should parallel treatments used for small-cell lung cancer.