Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study describes the expression of synaptophysin on platelet surfaces of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Compared to healthy donors, platelet-expressed synaptophysin was shown to be significantly upregulated in NENs patients. Platelet-expressed synaptophysin was significantly correlated with tumor proliferation and metastasis, demonstrating the involvement of platelets in tumor biology. Expression of synaptophysin on platelet surfaces was finally shown to predict progression-free survival in NEN. This study conceptually explored platelet-expressed synaptophysin as a novel biomarker in NEN.Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) encompass a heterogeneous group of tumors. Whereas low-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are histologically well-differentiated, highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are characterized by a high proliferation rate and a worse clinical outcome. Since most NEN patients need monitoring of tumor progress and response to treatment for a long period of time, especially in metastatic disease, reliable, dynamic, and easy-to-assess biomarkers are needed. In this prospective study, we identified platelet-expressed synaptophysin (pSyn) as a novel biomarker in NENs. The level of pSyn in NENs was significantly upregulated compared to healthy donors. pSyn was positively correlated with higher tumor stages, the occurrence of metastasis, histological grading, and higher tumor proliferation (Ki67). Most importantly, high pSyn expression in our NEN cohort was shown to predict shorter progression-free survival (PFS). In conclusion, our data highlight the potential of pSyn as a novel biomarker in NENs reflecting tumor stages, grading, and prognosis.
Highlights
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent a rare heterogenic group of tumors.They can develop in multiple organs showing the highest frequency in the lung, small bowel, and pancreas [1]
We hypothesized that platelets, derived from patients with neuroendocrine malignancies, might express distinct levels of tumor-specific surface proteins like synaptophysin
We performed immunofluorescence analysis of platelets derived from patients with histologically confirmed NEN and healthy donors (HD)
Summary
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent a rare heterogenic group of tumors. They can develop in multiple organs showing the highest frequency in the lung, small bowel, and pancreas [1]. NENs originate from neuroendocrine cells, which are involved in hormone homeostasis via the release of bioactive substances like insulin, somatostatin, gastrin or serotonin [1,2]. Regardless of their organ of origin, NENs can be divided into two major groups based on differentiation and proliferation rate (Ki67-rate): low-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and highly-aggressive neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) [1]. High-grade NECs can either develop primarily, or develop as a component of mixed non-neuroendocrine-neuroendocrine carcinomas (MiNEN)
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