Chemotherapy as treatment of choice in extrapulmonary undifferentiated small cell carcinomas

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Abstract
Extrapulmonary undifferentiated small cell carcinomas, especially those arising in the upper aerodigestive tract, form a group of neoplasms with a clinical behavior which resembles small cell carcinoma of the lung. In 11 patients treated by combination chemotherapy an objective response rate of 82% was achieved for a median duration of 8+ months. Median survival for all patients was 12 months. Long‐term survival was observed in those patients with limited disease who achieved a complete response after chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.