Treatment progression of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms and hepatic metastasis

Abstract

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms are a group of heterogeneous tumors originated from the gastrointestinal peptidergic neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Rectum is one of the major sites of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Although the progression of rectal neuroendocine neoplasms (rNENs) is relatively slow, metastasis could occurs and liver is the major target organ invaded by distant metastatic rNENs. Surgical operation can be used as the preferred method for the treatment of rNENs and its metastasis at present. If the clinical situations of tumors are not eligible for the operation, interventional treatment can be considered as an alternative treatment. The chemotherapies and molecule-targeted drugs for rNENs are primarily in the light of therapeutic methods for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, it may help patients achieve partial response or stable disease, and prolong patients survival time. However, there has been few clinical researches directed toward rNENs and no an extensive consensus for treatment of rNENs up to now, and more evidences of evidence-based medicine should be necessitated. This paper has discussed and summarized treatment progression of rNENs and its metastasis. Key words: Neuroendocrine neoplasms, rectum; Therapy; Metastases