Incidence Of Neuroendocrine Tumors Research Articles

Epidemiological characteristics of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Beijing: a population-based retrospective study

BackgroundThe incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) is rising rapidly worldwide. However, there are few reports on these heterogeneous diseases in China. Our study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of NENs in Beijing.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using population-based cancer surveillance data in Beijing, China. All data were extracted from the Beijing Cancer Registry with incidence dates from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2018; the follow-up period was through 31 December 2021. Segi’s world standard population was used to estimate the age-standardized rate. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsFrom 1998 to 2018, the incidence of NENs in Beijing initially showed a significant increasing trend, from 1.07/100,000 to 3.53/100,000; this began to plateau after 2013. The age-specific incidence rate increased with age and peaked in the age group 70–74 years. The incidence in men was significantly higher than that in women (4.41/100,000 vs. 1.69/100,000). The most common sites of NENs were the lung (2.38/100,000) and rectum (0.14/100,000). Most NENs were diagnosed at a late stage. We found that NENs originating from the lung had worse overall survival than extrapulmonary NENs, and male patients had worse survival than female patients.ConclusionsThis study retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of NENs in Beijing from 1998 to 2018. Our findings provide a reference regarding the epidemiological statistics of NENs in Beijing to contribute to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these specific tumors.

Liver Imaging in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has gradually increased over the past few decades with the majority of patients presenting with metastases on initial presentation. The liver is the most common site of initial metastatic disease, and the presence of liver metastasis is an independent prognostic factor associated with a negative outcome. Because NENs are heterogenous neoplasms with variable differentiation, grading, and risk of grade transformation over time, accurate diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine liver lesions are both important and challenging. This is particularly so with the multiple liver-directed treatment options available. In this review article, we discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and response evaluation of NEN liver metastases.

Incidence trend of neuroendocrine tumors and disparities by sex and race/ethnicity in adults from the United States, 2000-2020.

The incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) has been increasing globally for several decades. The objective of the study was to examine the most recent trend in the incidence of NET as well as disparities by sex and race/ethnicity in adults in the USA. Patients with NET aged ≥20 years were identified from the SEER 22 Registries from 2000 to 2020. The age-adjusted incidence rate was calculated for overall NET and by primary site. The incidence trend was assessed by annual percent change. Disparities by sex and race/ethnicity were examined using the incidence rate ratio. Age-adjusted incidence rate of overall NET in adults was 9.39 per 100 000 in 2000-2020. The incidence rate increased from 2000 but reached a plateau with no significant change since 2015. The lung and bronchus, small intestine, and rectum were the most common primary sites. Sex and racial/ethnic disparities in NET incidence varied by primary sites. For example, there was a female excess in NET of the lung and bronchus, stomach, and appendix; and there was a male excess in the small intestine, pancreas, colon, rectum and other/unknown NET. Compared to non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black had higher incidences of stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, colon, rectum, and other/unknown NET; they had lower incidences of lung and bronchus, and appendix NET than non-Hispanic white. Age-adjusted incidence rate of overall NET has reached a plateau since 2015. However, there were sex and racial/ethnic disparities in such incidence, which varied depending on the primary site of NET.

Incidentally Found Rectal Carcinoid Tumor in a 46-Year-Old Female: The Potential for Complications and the Importance of Screening Guidelines

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine tumors that can be found in the gastrointestinal tract as well as other areas throughout the body. The neurosecretory nature of these tumors can have implications for other chronic diseases that patients may have, including diabetes and hypertension. Certain treatments that may be implemented for patients that have carcinoid tumors, such as somatostatin analogs and Everolimus, can also alter blood glucose control. This highlights the importance of diagnosing and treating carcinoid tumors as early as possible to avoid complications associated with metastasis and more intense treatment. With more advanced disease, clinicians should consider the possible effects of carcinoid tumors and their treatments on other chronic conditions as they manage the patient. For gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, colonoscopy screening guidelines are incredibly important to counsel patients on, as resection can yield a complete cure for carcinoid tumors when they are found at an early stage. THE CASE: We describe the case of an incidentally diagnosed rectal carcinoid tumor in a 46-year-old female patient with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. This tumor was discovered on colonoscopy, which had been delayed due to complications following a surgical procedure that the patient had recently undergone. CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumors are quite rare, however, the incidence of neuroendocrine tumors, including gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, is growing. Thus, it is important to consider the implications of such tumors on pre-existing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. Also, more research efforts should be directed towards standardizing the treatment protocol for such tumors, specifically rectal carcinoid tumors, and counseling patients on the importance of screening guidelines. When rectal carcinoid tumors are caught early, complete surgical resection can be curative, which is ideal. However, with more advanced disease, symptoms of the tumor itself as well as necessary treatments can impact other chronic conditions, possibly requiring modifications to a patient’s prior medication regimen. Fortunately, the carcinoid tumor in the described patient was not advanced enough to cause significant alteration in her other chronic conditions, however, this case is still a great example of how carcinoid tumors can arise asymptomatically, which is why it is important for the astute clinician to counsel on screening recommendations. This emphasizes the importance of using a team-based approach to ensure that the carcinoid tumor is diagnosed and adequately treated without significantly affecting other conditions so that patients can achieve optimal outcomes for each condition being managed. It also highlights the crucial importance of screening guidelines so that conditions can be caught early to mitigate downstream consequences.

Efficacy and tolerability of somatostatin analogues according to gender in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

As the incidence of neuroendocrine tumors has been rising, gender differences in epidemiology and clinical behavior have emerged, and interest into a gender-driven management of these tumors has grown with the aim to improve survival and quality of life of these patients. Somatostatin Analogues represent the first line of systemic treatment of both functional and non-functional neuroendocrine tumors, through the expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in the tumor cells, and proved effective in controlling hormonal hypersecretion and inhibiting tumor growth, improving progression-free survival and overall survival of these patients. Aim of the present review is to investigate any differences by gender in efficacy and safety of SSTS-targeted therapies, that represent the mainstay treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, as they emerge from studies of varying design and intent. Although preclinical studies have provided evidence in favor of differences by gender in tumor expression of SSTR, as well as of the role of sex hormones and related receptors in modulating SSTRs expression and function, the clinical studies conducted so far have not shown substantial differences between males and females in either efficacy or toxicity of SSTR-targeted therapies, even if with sometimes inconsistent results. Moreover, in most studies gender was not a predictor of response to treatment. Studies specifically designed to address this issue are needed to develop gender-specific therapeutic algorithms, improving patients' prognosis and quality of life.

A Comprehensive Review on Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Presentation, Pathophysiology and Management.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a group of heterogeneous tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation that can arise from any organ. They account for 2% of all malignancies in the United States. A significant proportion of NEN patients experience endocrine imbalances consequent to increased amine or peptide hormone secretion, impacting their quality of life and prognosis. Over the last decade, pathologic categorization, diagnostic techniques and therapeutic choices for NENs-both well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)-have appreciably evolved. Diagnosis of NEN mostly follows a suspicion from clinical features or incidental imaging findings. Hormonal or non-hormonal biomarkers (like serum serotonin, urine 5-HIAA, gastrin and VIP) and histology of a suspected NEN is, therefore, critical for both confirmation of the diagnosis and classification as an NET or NEC. Therapy for NENs has progressed recently based on a better molecular understanding, including the involvement of mTOR, VEGF and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), which add to the growing evidence supporting the possibility of treatment beyond complete resection. As the incidence of NENs is on the rise in the United States and several other countries, physicians are more likely to see these cases, and their better understanding may support earlier diagnosis and tailoring treatment to the patient. We have compiled clinically significant evidence for NENs, including relevant changes to clinical practice that have greatly updated our diagnostic and therapeutic approach for NEN patients.

The Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer in Younger and Older Patients.

Recent studies have shown that the incidence of colorectal cancer among younger persons is rising. We investigated incidence trends and survival in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Cancer registry data from the period 2008-2019 were classified into two age groups (15-54 and 55-99). In each age group, the standardized incidence, average annual percent change (AAPC), and relative 5-year survival (RS) were calculated and stratified according to the site, histology, size, and grade of the colorectal tumor. 167 919 cases were included, with adenocarcinoma accounting for 86.4%. In 2019, the age-standardized incidence per 100 000 person-years was 13.8 and 10.3 among men and women (respectively) in the younger age group, compared with 197.9 and 126.3 in the older age group. Over the study period from 2008 to 2019, the incidence declined among older men and women (AAPC -2.6% and -2.9%) but remained nearly constant among younger men and women (- 0.5% and -0.4%). The incidence of neuroendocrine, T1, and G2 tumors rose in both age groups (AAPC range: 2.3%-12.2%; 2.2%-8.3%, 6.3%-8.8%). Younger patients have a better RS, with the largest difference between age groups being found for neuroendocrine tumors (88% and 83% in younger men and women, 65% and 61% in older men and women). The incidence of colorectal tumors has remained constant in persons under age 55 and declined in persons aged 55 and older. Nonetheless, the incidence of neuroendocrine tumors and of small and well-differentiated tumors has risen in both age groups. The trends among younger persons and the rise in neuroendocrine tumors merit further study.

Incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway 1993-2021.

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has increased over the last decades. The prevalence of NENs has to a lesser extent been previously reported. We wanted to study the trends in incidence and prevalence of NEN in Norway from 1993 to 2021 through the Cancer Registry of Norway. This registry, which covers the whole population, has been found to be 99% complete. The neoplasms were classified as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). From 1993 to 2021 altogether 10.288 NETs and 13,982 (1.756 outside the lungs) NECs were diagnosed. The incidence of NETs increased from 3.72 to 9.97 per 100,000 per year, corresponding to a 268% increase, p < .001. The largest increase in incidence for NETs was found for pancreas (338%), lung (330%) and small intestine (303%). For NECs there was no change in the incidence, from 9.74 to 9.95 per 100,000 per year, p = .4, but there was an increase in the incidence of NECs originating from the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma) (287%), p < .001, and the GI tract (200%), p = .03. There were no changes in stage distribution at diagnosis for NETs and NECs. The prevalence for NENs increased 666% during the study period, NETs increased from 10.77 to 99.37 per 100.000 (927%), p < .001. For NECs the increase was from 7.4 to 21.56 per 100.000 (291%), p < .001. GI-NECs increased the most from 0.005 to 0.94 (1880%), p = .002. In conclusion, there was a substantial increase in incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway from 1993 to 2021. This is the first study to report complete prevalence of NENs for a whole nation.

Neuroendocrine Tumor of Small Intestine, a Diagnostic Challenge

Incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) has significantly increased in the past three decades. In the small intestine, NET are the most frequent tumors, even more frequent than adenocarcinomas. Due to atypical presentations and late symptoms, NET in the small intestine frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. It is important to take these tumors into consideration in differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Surgeons, oncologists, endocrinologists, and gastroenterologists should understand the disease characteristics and management alternatives. This document aims to review the key points of NET and main diagnostic tools. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who presented lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Imaging and endoscopic studies showed no conclusive findings. A capsule endoscopy showed multiple ulcered lesions with neoplastic aspect in the distal jejune. Due to the multifocal nature of the lesions, clinicians suspected NET-associated digestive bleeding. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy with ileectomy and radical abdominal lymphadenectomy. Histopathologic examination confirmed the suspected diagnosis of NET. This case reflects the complexity of diagnostic approach and differential diagnoses for these tumors.

S3514 A Case of Symptomatic Ileal Non-Secretory Neuroendocrine Tumor Successfully Treated With Octreotide

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumor incidence is steadily increasing, likely from detection due to better imaging, routine colonoscopies, and endoscopies. Most NETs, 55%, are found in the GI tract and only 0.1-1% found on routine colonoscopy. About 40% of NETs are hormone producing leading to the clinical diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome. One of the most common symptoms of carcinoid syndrome is diarrhea occuring in 80% percent of cases, however diarrhea can be present in non-secretory NETs. Here we report a case of GNET presenting as diarrhea that responded to octreotide injections despite having normal 5-HIAA and chromogranin A levels. Case Description/Methods: Our patient is an 80 year old female with past medical history of hypertension, renal stones, and IBS with baseline diarrhea of about 2-4 pasty stools a day. In November she developed two days of severe diarrhea with 10 watery stools a day and multiple episodes of incontinence which prompted patient to go to the ED. The inpatient workup was negative for acute causes, CT showed diverticulosis, and stools returned to baseline. The patient was discharged with outpatient GI follow up. At home the severe diarrhea retuned so outpatient GI planned for colonoscopy. Results of the procedure included a 2cm submucosal non-obstructing mass in the terminal ileum. Pathology showed a G1 well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Patient was referred to oncology and workup revealed no metastasis on PET/CT and negative 5-HIAA and chromogranin A levels. During initial oncology visit patient was started on octreotide injections which greatly improved the diarrhea. Even with negative carcinoid workup the decision was made to continue octreotide injections and not to pursue surgical options. (Figure) Discussion: The terminal ileum is the most common GI location for NETs. Terminal ileum intubation on coloscopy is attempted 30-80% and greatly aids in diagnosis, as with our patient. Once diagnosed, there is limited guidance on treatment of diarrhea in patients with NETs and negative carcinoid workup. There are no abstracts or research on treatment of diarrhea with negative carcinoid syndrome. One treatment for carcinoid syndrome is somatostatin analogues but no guidelines with non-carcinoid NETs and therapeutic value in octreotide. However, with our patient, treatment with monthly octreotide injections resolved their symptoms. Our case emphasizes importance of ileal intubation in coloscopy and that somatostatin analogue treatment should be considered in non carcinoid NETs.Figure 1.: Small bowel (terminal ileum): well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (G1).

Primary grade 2 neuroendocrine tumor of the ileal mesentery: a case report

BackgroundThe prevalence and incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are increasing worldwide. Primary mesenteric NETs are extremely rare. Solid tumors that arise in the mesentery are typically metastatic. We present an extremely rare case of a primary grade 2 NET (NET G2) in the ileal mesentery.Case presentationA 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further examination of a previously diagnosed right mesenteric tumor. Mild tenderness was noted on the right side of the abdomen, but there were no palpable masses. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) revealed slight FDG uptake (maximum standardized uptake value, 2.0) in the right abdomen, and a benign or low-grade malignant tumor was suspected. We extracted the ileal mesenteric tumor with an ileal resection (90 cm). The cut surface of the 55 × 33 × 33 mm3 tumor was pale yellowish-white. Immunohistochemistry revealed diffuse staining for synaptophysin and chromogranin A, and focal staining for CD56. The Ki-67 index was 3%. The final pathological diagnosis was NET G2. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he developed no recurrence 1.5 years after surgery. Postoperative antitumor therapy was not performed for this patient because the histological diagnosis was NET G2, and it was determined that the tumor could be completely resected by surgery.ConclusionsWe report an extremely rare case of primary ileal mesenteric NET. Mesenteric tumors that show slight FDG uptake on FDG-PET examination should be considered well-differentiated NET.

Epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic characteristics of colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: a population-based study in the Netherlands.

Background and study aims Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) account for a small number of colorectal neoplasms. Endoscopic detection is essential for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Little is known about incidence of NENs in colonoscopy populations or the relationship between clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic features. We evaluated epidemiology, endoscopic and clinical characteristics of colorectal NENs in a population-based cohort. Patients and methods Medical records of NEN cases were cross-linked with the national pathology database from January 2001 to December 2015, in South Limburg County, the Netherlands, covering four endoscopy units. Senior pathologists reviewed and classified NENs using World Health Organization 5th edition (2019) guidelines. Results The number of colorectal NEN diagnoses was stable over time with 0.6 NEN per 1,000 patients. A total of NENs were detected in 85 patients: 65 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and 20 poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Rectal NETs were usually small sessile/submucosal lesions with yellowish (lipoma-like) color. Colonic NETs were larger sessile/submucosal lesions with darker color compared to background. Colorectal NECs presented as large, dark-colored lesions with ulcerated/necrotizing areas. Conclusions Our population-based data point to a stable and low incidence of 0.6 NEN per 1,000 patients in the Netherlands. Rectal NETs mainly present as small sessile yellowish lesions. Colonic NETs present as larger and darker lesions than background mucosa and NECs as darker lesions than background with ulceration/necrosis. Standardized endoscopic characterization of colorectal NENs is necessary to improve recognition of these lesions and provide a basis for evidence-based treatment and surveillance recommendations.

Characteristics of patients with neuroendocrine tumors in the United States: A study of 392,412 patients.

10572 Background: To evaluate the characteristics and trends amongst patients with neuroendocrine tumors in the United States. Methods: Data was obtained from the United States Cancer Statistics database from 2001 to 2018. SEER*Stat 8.3.9.2 and Joinpoint regression program 4.9.0.0 were used to calculate characteristics and trends of these cancers per 100,000. The age-adjusted incidences were determined based on the standard population in the United States from 2000. Results: Of 392,412 patients with neuroendocrine tumors, 53.1% were identified in women and 46.9% in men. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and unknown race comprised 73.6%, 14.1%, 7.8%, 2.7%, and 1.7% of the patient population respectively. The majority (64.7%) of tumors originated from the digestive system, followed by 24.5% from the respiratory system. In 2018, the incidence of all neuroendocrine tumors was higher in older (70-79 years) patients as compared to younger (&lt; 50 years) ones at 30.17 vs. 2.79/100,000, in women as compared to men at 8.36 vs. 7.77/100,000, and in White patients as compared to Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients (10.82, 10.15, 5.08 and 4.80/100,000 respectively). Amongst different types of neuroendocrine tumors, those originating from the digestive system had the highest incidence at 6.72/100,000 in the year 2018 with colon tumors being the most common subtype. On trend analysis, the groups with the highest annual percent increase included: younger (&lt; 50 years) patients increasing at 5.06%, Hispanic patients rising at 6.44%, and appendiceal tumors increasing at 12.89% per year. On intersection analysis, Black patients between the ages of 70-79 had the highest incidence at 33.39/100,000, while younger (&lt; 50 years) Hispanic patients had the largest increase at 6.22% per year. Conclusions: The incidence of neuroendocrine tumors has increased over our study period. The highest incidence was found in older Non-Hispanic Black patients, with younger Hispanic patients having the highest annual percent increase. Further studies are warranted to better characterize the reasons for these trends and disparities amongst minority patients affected by these tumors.

Sex differences in carcinoid syndrome: A gap to be closed.

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms and related carcinoid syndrome (CS) has markedly increased over the last decades and women seem to be more at risk than men for developing CS. Nevertheless, very few studies have investigated sex differences in clinical presentation and outcomes of CS. However, as per other tumours, sex might be relevant in influencing tumour localization, delay in diagnosis, clinical outcomes, prognosis and overall survival in CS. The present review was aimed at evaluating sex differences in CS, as they emerge from an extensive search of the recent literature. It emerged that CS occurs more frequently in female than in male patients with NENs and women seem to have a better prognosis and a slight advantage in overall survival and response to therapy. Moreover, the disease likely impacts differently the quality of life of men and women, with different psychological and social consequences. Nevertheless, sex differences, even if partially known, are deeply underestimated in clinical practice and data from clinical trials are lacking. There is urgent need to increase our understanding of the sex-related differences of CS, in order to define tailored strategies of management of the disease, improving both the quality of life and the prognosis of affected patients.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) is increasing globally, and gastrointestinal NEN (GI-NEN) is the most common type of NEN. Diagnosis and treatment of GI-NEN are quite different, according to tumor's location, size, background, cell origin, and pathogenesis. Digestive endoscopy has unique advantages in detecting of GI-NEN. However, endoscopist should not perform endoscopic resection arbitrarily, due to the high heterogeneity and complexity of GI-NEN. We need to establish the concept about comprehensive assessment for GI-NEN, including medical history and physical signs, serology, imaging, radionuclide and end·oscopic examination, to make an individualized treatment after rigorous multidisciplinary discussion.

Interpretation of updated international guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of gastroenter-opancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) is continuously increasing with gastrointestinal tract and pancreas being the most common primary sites. Currently, the guidelines proposed by European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) are being widely applied. Among these, ENETS and NANETS guidelines were proposed in 2017 while ESMO and NCCN recently updated their guidelines for gastroenteropancreatic NEN in 2020 and 2021, respectively. This article interprets the diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteropancreatic NEN based on the newly updated ESMO and NCCN guidelines. The diagnosis of gastroenteropancreatic NEN depends on histological assessment including morphological evaluation, grading and immunohistochemistry results. Combination of different imaging methods can help determine tumor staging and risk assessment. Decision-making of treatment and follow-up strategies is based on primary tumor site, tumor classification, tumor grade, tumor type, functional status etc.

Quality of pathology reporting and adherence to guidelines in rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: a Belgian national study

ABSTRACT The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) in the rectum is rising since the introduction of colonoscopy screening programs. Guidelines, such as the European NeuroEndocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) algorithm, are mainly based on expert opinion. The goal of this nationwide study is to gain a better insight into the evolution in pathology reporting and adherence to the ENETS guidelines in Belgium. In Belgium, all NENs have to be reported to the Belgian Cancer Registry. We thoroughly reviewed all available pathology reports, coded as rectal NEN between 2004 and 2015, and reclassified according to World Health Organisation (WHO) classification 2019. To evaluate the adherence to the ENETS guidelines, population-based cancer registry data were linked with the medical procedures of the Belgian Health Insurance database. A total of 670 rectal NEN were retained and 16% of the cases needed reclassification. Annual incidence between 2004 and 2015 tripled from 0,20 to 0,61 per 100.000 inhabitants. Reporting of Ki67 proliferation index ameliorated most, while reporting of tumor size, lymphovascular and perineural invasion remained disappointing. Endoscopic ultrasound was performed in only 36.6% of the cases, while the mostly recommended mode of treatment (endoscopic/surgical/no resection) was followed in the majority of the cases. Incidence of rectal NEN in Belgium increased throughout the years and quality of pathology reporting improved especially after the WHO classification update in 2010. The growing awareness and knowledge among clinicians and pathologists in the community counters the need for centralization.

Myths about inexpediency of carrying out peptide receptor radionuclide diagnostics in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

he disease incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) is increasing every year. Neuroendocrine tumors Grade 1 and 2 have a more favorable prognosis than Grade 3. When we are talking about NET with non-detected initial focus, the 10-year survival rate is 22 % [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to make every effort and use all technical abilities to localize the primary tumor, even in the presence of metastases, because resection of the primary tumor(s) can increase disease-free and overall survival rate. Also, the choice of chemotherapy drug or the appointment of biotherapy may depend on this. Finding tumor localization remains challenging and must involve a combination of radiological, nuclear medicine and endoscopic imaging techniques. There are many different myths about the purpose of nuclear medicine examinations and interpretation of the results in NET patients. And in this article we will try to debunk some of them, using examples from our experience in our center. We choose 111 patients with NET (histologically confimed). All patients underwent scintigraphy of neuroendocrine tumors with 99mTc-EDDA/HYNICTOC (99mTc-Tektrotyd) in the «whole body» mode and additional SPECT or SPECT/CT examination of the chest,abdomen and pelvis.

An updated analysis of the epidemiologic trends of neuroendocrine tumors in Taiwan

The incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has been increasing in recent decades. Previously, we reported the incidence and survival of NETs in Taiwan by analyzing the 1996–2008 data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Here we performed an updated analysis on the incidence and survival of NETs in Taiwan from 1996 to 2015. The incidence of NETs was 0.244 per 100,000 in 1996 and increased to 3.162 per 100,000 in 2015. The most common site of NETs was rectum (29.65%), followed by lung/bronchus (17.22%), and pancreas (10.71%). The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates of all NETs were 54.6% and 45.3%, respectively. Female and younger NETs patients had a better survival. The survival of all NETs diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 was better than those diagnosed between 2004 and 2009. Among the common sites of NETs, an improved survival of pancreatic NETs diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 compared to those diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 was observed. Overall, the incidence of NETs in Taiwan has continued to increase. The survival of pancreatic NET has shown a recent improvement. The development of novel therapeutic agents has the potential to improve the prognosis of NETs of other sites in the near future.

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Identification of Novel Metabolic Circuits of Potential Diagnostic Utility.

Simple SummaryNeuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare tumours, and currently available, mono-analyte biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis have poor predictive and prognostic accuracy. Metabolic profiling has been applied to several cancer types, but the systemic metabolic consequences of NEN have not yet been well studied. Here, we demonstrate, in a treatment-naïve cohort of patients with NEN, that several metabolites are dysregulated in NEN and this is detectable in urine, due to changes in cancer metabolic processes, neuroendocrine signalling molecules and the gut mirobiome. This may have relevance for novel diagnostic biomarkers.The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) is increasing, but established biomarkers have poor diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. Here, we aim to define the systemic metabolic consequences of NEN and to establish the diagnostic utility of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) for NEN in a prospective cohort of patients through a single-centre, prospective controlled observational study. Urine samples of 34 treatment-naïve NEN patients (median age: 59.3 years, range: 36–85): 18 had pancreatic (Pan) NEN, of which seven were functioning; 16 had small bowel (SB) NEN; 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control individuals were analysed using a 600 MHz Bruker 1H-NMR spectrometer. Orthogonal partial-least-squares-discriminant analysis models were able to discriminate both PanNEN and SBNEN patients from healthy control (Healthy vs. PanNEN: AUC = 0.90, Healthy vs. SBNEN: AUC = 0.90). Secondary metabolites of tryptophan, such as trigonelline and a niacin-related metabolite were also identified to be universally decreased in NEN patients, while upstream metabolites, such as kynurenine, were elevated in SBNEN. Hippurate, a gut-derived metabolite, was reduced in all patients, whereas other gut microbial co-metabolites, trimethylamine-N-oxide, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine, were elevated in those with SBNEN. These findings suggest the existence of a new systems-based neuroendocrine circuit, regulated in part by cancer metabolism, neuroendocrine signalling molecules and gut microbial co-metabolism. Metabonomic profiling of NEN has diagnostic potential and could be used for discovering biomarkers for these tumours. These preliminary data require confirmation in a larger cohort.