Human · observationalMechanismReported positiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 216
International journal of molecular sciences · Mar 2026 · retrospective cohort
pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomaLCNEC
Researchers performed targeted next-generation sequencing on 216 pulmonary LCNEC tumor samples from a retrospective Polish cohort to look for actionable gene variants. They found 46 variants in 46/216 samples (21.3%), with 28/216 (13%) harboring at least one potentially actionable alteration; most common were KRAS and PIK3CA (each 5%), and a novel TMEM79::NTRK1 fusion was found in one case (0.5%). Several typical NSCLC alterations (classical EGFR exon 18–21, ALK, FGFR1/2/3, ROS1) were not detected.
Reported effects: variant_count 46, n=216 · variant_positive_rate 21.3%, n=216 · +8 more
Key findings
- Overall, 46 variants were identified in 46/216 (21.3%) tumor samples.
- 28/216 (13%) LCNECs harbored at least one actionable molecular variant potentially targetable by registered or investigational agents.
- KRAS variants were present in 5% of tumors (including G12C at 2%).
- PIK3CA variants were present in 5% of tumors.
- RET single-nucleotide variants were observed in 3% of tumors.
- Uncommon EGFR variants were observed in 1% of tumors; BRAF class II and III variants were observed at <1%.
- A novel in-frame gene fusion (TMEM79::NTRK1) was identified in a single tumor sample (0.5%).
- No classical EGFR exon 18-21 mutations nor ALK, FGFR1/2/3, or ROS1 alterations (mutations or fusions) were detected.
Limitations: Retrospective study design.; Targeted NGS panel limited to 17 genes, so alterations outside the panel would not be detected.; Single-country (Polish) cohort which may limit generalizability.; No clinical outcome or treatment-response data reported in the abstract to link variants to patient benefit..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
ReviewMechanismInconclusiveLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
Surgical pathology clinics · Mar 2020 · review
pulmonary neuroendocrine tumorstypical carcinoid tumoratypical carcinoid tumorsmall-cell carcinomalarge-cell neuroendocrine carcinomalung
This review summarizes pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors as a spectrum ranging from well-differentiated typical carcinoid to intermediate atypical carcinoid to high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (small-cell and large-cell). The authors note that immunohistochemistry is often essential for diagnosis and classification, that the atypical carcinoid category has important therapeutic implications, and that distinguishing small-cell carcinoma from large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma affects therapeutic approach.
Key findings
- Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors form a morphologic spectrum from typical carcinoid to atypical carcinoid to high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (small-cell and large-cell).
- Immunohistochemistry is helpful and often essential in diagnostics, especially for classifying large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.
- The intermediate-grade atypical carcinoid group is important because the diagnosis impacts therapy.
- Differentiating pulmonary small-cell carcinoma from large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is relevant to therapeutic approach despite both being high-grade.
Limitations: Review article; no original experimental or clinical data reported in the abstract.; Abstract does not describe methods (e.g., whether this is a systematic review), so selection bias or comprehensiveness cannot be assessed from the abstract.; No quantitative results, effect sizes, or outcomes reported in the abstract..
Focuses on morphology, diagnostic use of immunohistochemistry, and the clinical importance of distinguishing subtypes of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed