2010年成都市胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤发病率及临床特点

目的 了解2010年成都市胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤(GEP-NEN)的发病率,总结GEP-NEN的临床特点.方法 采用2010年四川大学华西医院、成都市健康信息中心数据库资料估算成都市GEP-NEN发病率.结果 2010年华西医院共确诊GEP-NEN 77例,排除外院会诊及非成都籍病例10例,共纳入67例.2010年成都市GEP-NEN发病率约为1.86/10万.67例GEP-NEN中,位于胰腺与直肠的最多,共38例,占56.7％,其余依次为胃(10例)、食管(7例)、十二指肠(4例)等.57例具有明确病理分级的GEP-NEN患者中,26例(45.6％)确诊为神经内分泌癌或混合性腺神经内分泌癌.结论 2010年成都市GEP-NEN发病率与各国报道的发病率相近,胰腺、直肠及上消化道为GEP-NEN好发部位,其早期诊断率仍待提高.     

87例胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤的诊治分析

目的 探讨胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤(GEP-NEN)发生部位、临床症状、内镜及影像学表现、病理特点、诊断、治疗及预后。方法收集中山大学附属第一医院2000年1月至2010年6月间收治的87例GEP-NEN患者病历资料,通过对神经内分泌标记物突触素(Syn)和铬粒素A(CgA)的免疫组织化学染色确定肿瘤是否具有神经内分泌性质,按组织学和增殖活性明确肿瘤分级,将GEP-NEN分为神经内分泌瘤（G1和G2级）、神经内分泌癌（G3级）和混合性腺神经内分泌癌(G3级),探讨其临床特点及诊疗情况。结果 36例(41.4 ％)GEP-NEN发生在胰腺,其次为直肠18例(20.7％)、胃9例(10.3％)、十二指肠6例(6.9％)。87例GEP-NEN中65例(74.7％)为非功能性,多以各种消化道症状或肿瘤局部占位为首发症状,无一例出现类癌综合征,内镜及影像学表现主要为肿瘤占位病变。87例GEP-NEN中69例(79.7％)为神经内分泌瘤(NET)、13例(14.9％)为神经内分泌癌(NEC)、5例(5.4％)为混合性腺神经内分泌癌(MANEC);G1、G2和G3级肿瘤分别占64.9％、14.9％和20.2％。22例(47.8％) GEP-NEN患者就诊时肿瘤浸润肌层/浆膜层,18例(20.7％)出现淋巴结转移,18例(20.7％)出现远处转移,大部分转移至肝脏。CgA和Syn免疫组织化学染色阳性率分别为74.2％和88.1％。79例(90.8％)患者进行手术治疗。随访1年、3年和5年生存率分别为76.9％、54.2％和41.7％。结论GEP-NEN可发生于消化系统任何部位,临床表现多样,内镜和影像学检查是重要的诊断手段,确诊主要依赖病理,手术是主要的治疗手段,肿瘤病理分类、分级和远处转移情况等与其预后有关。     

Classification and pathology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are composed of cells with a neuroendocrine phenotype. The old and the new WHO classifications distinguish between well-differentiated and poorly differentiated neoplasms. All well-differentiated neoplasms, regardless of whether they behave benignly or develop metastases, will be called neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), and graded G1 (Ki67 <2%) or G2 (Ki67 2-20%). All poorly differentiated neoplasms will be termed neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) and graded G3 (Ki67 >20%). To stratify the GEP-NETs and GEP-NECs regarding their prognosis, they are now further classified according to TNM-stage systems that were recently proposed by the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS) and the AJCC/UICC. In the light of these criteria the pathology and biology of the various NETs and NECs of the gastrointestinal tract (including the oesophagus) and the pancreas are reviewed.     

Tumour biology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Neuroendocrine tumours of the gastroenteropancreatic tract (GEP NETs) represent a rare and heterogeneous group of tumours. Based on their ontogenetic origin, GEP NETs are classified into foregut, midgut and hindgut tumours. Although they have many features in common, their molecular backgrounds are obviously different. Elucidation of the key factors determining tumour biology has been hampered by the low incidence and high variability of these tumours in terms of origin, morphology and growth. However, recent years have shed some light on molecular genetics of these tumours, revealing important genetic factors as the RET proto-oncogene and the tumour suppressor menin as well as knowledge about the role of growth factors like IGF-1, TGF-beta, VEGF and PDGF for the regulation of differentiation, growth and secretion. In the future, emerging molecular tools in rapid individual genome analysis and in proteomic and array technologies may help to delineate common patterns of NET disease.     

Molecular genetics of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are usually sporadic; however, familial (inherited) syndromes, such as the multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 (MEN-1) syndrome, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, neurofibromatosis (NF-1), as well as tuberous sclerosis, may be associated with proximal intestinal and pancreatic NETs. For example, 25% of gastrinoma patients have MEN-1 syndrome. Over the last two decades, the genetic basis of tumorigenesis for these familial syndromes has been clearly identified, providing clinicians with useful screening tools for affected families. Also, over the last few years, advanced molecular genetic techniques, such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses, have detected some differences in genomic aberrations among various types of NETs. Whether these chromosomic alterations have implications in the treatment of patients and the outcome of the disease is still unclear.     

Molecular imaging of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy has become an obligatory molecular imaging method in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors when metastatic disease is suspected. Using positron emission tomography and new somatostatin analogues, sensitivity of somatostatin receptor imaging has further increased. With a combination of morphologic imaging methods, such as hybrid imaging by PET/CT, this method represents the method of choice in many centers and efforts are under way to translate somatostatin receptor imaging onto a cellular level by endoscopic confocal microscopy. Other clinically relevant functional pathways in neuroendocrine tumors that are accessible by PET imaging are glucose metabolism and amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation.     

MEN1基因与胃肠道胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤

MEN1基因为多发性内分泌腺肿瘤(MEN1)的易感基因,在调节基因的转录、维持基因的稳定、调控细胞的分裂和增殖方面起重要作用,而MEN1基因失活可能与胃肠道胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤(GEP-NET)发生机制有关。     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and to examine the relationship to various clinicopathological parameters. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-seven gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically. Correlations between expression and some parameters such as age, sex, tumor size, location, presence of multiple neuroendocrine tumor, lymphatic/vascular/muscularis propria invasion and lymph node metastases were evaluated. Results were interpreted as significant if p < 0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of patients (15 men/22 women) was 52 +/- 17. Tumor size varied between 0.1 and 12 cm. (mean; 3.17 +/- 3.29 cm). Expression was detected in 75% of cases and in 92% of gastric neuroendocrine tumors. Expression in mixed endocrine and non-endocrine carcinomas was found to be significantly higher than in well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and carcinomas (p = 0.016). A relationship was observed between overexpression and lymphatic and vascular invasion (p = 0.029). However, no significant correlation was found between expression and sex, tumor location, size, muscularis propria invasion and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression may play a role in the evolution of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, further studies are necessary to determine the importance of this role, prognostic relevance and whether cyclooxygenase isoenzyme can be a target for treatment in these tumors.     

Epidemiological study of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in Japan

Background

There have been few epidemiological studies on gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in Japan.

Methods

We examined the epidemiology of GEP-NETs [pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs)] in Japan in 2005 using a nationwide stratified random sampling method.

Results

A total of 2,845 individuals received treatment for PETs. Prevalence was estimated as 2.23/100,000 with an annual onset incidence of 1.01/100,000. Non-functioning tumor (NF)-PET constituted 47.4%, followed by insulinoma (38.2%) and gastrinoma (7.9%). Distant metastases were reported in 21% patients with NF-PETs and occurred more frequently as tumor size increased (>2 cm). Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) was detected in 10% of PETs but only in 6.1% of NF-PETs. NF-PETs were detected incidentally by physical examination in 24% patients. In 2005, an estimated 4,406 patients received treatment for GI-NETs. Prevalence was estimated as 3.45/100,000, with an annual onset incidence of 2.10/100,000. The locations of GI-NETs varied: foregut, 30.4%; midgut, 9.6%; and hindgut, 60.0%. Distant metastases were observed in 6%. Lymph node metastases occurred more frequently as tumor size increased (>1 cm). The frequency of MEN-1 complications was 1%. Physical examination revealed GI-NETs in 44% patients. The frequency of symptomatic GI-NETs was 3.4%. Interestingly, 77.1% of patients with foregut GI-NETs had type A gastritis.

Conclusion

Our results show there are large differences in GEP-NETs between Japan and Western nations, primarily due to differences in the presence of MEN-1 in NF-PETs and the location, symptomatic status, and prevalence of malignancy in GI-NETs.     

Biological and molecular aspects of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors of the digestive tract are rare entities characterized by significant phenotype differences and traditionally considered to originate from cells of the diffuse endocrine system of the pancreas and gut. Two major categories with significant phenotype and clinical behavior differences are identified as well-differentiated and poorly differentiated tumors. Investigation on the molecular basis of tumor development points to an important role for the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type-1 (MEN1) gene because of its frequent abnormality observed both in well-differentiated and poorly differentiated tumors. Other genes are possibly involved, though the available data need support from studies on larger series of tumors.     

Advances in the imaging of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors that differ in their pathogenesis, hormonal syndromes produced, biological behavior and consequently, in their requirement for and/or response to specific chemotherapeutic agents and molecular targeted therapies. Various imaging techniques are available for functional and morphological evaluation of these neoplasms and the selection of investigations performed in each patient should be customized to the clinical question. Also, with the increased availability of cross sectional imaging, these neoplasms are increasingly being detected incidentally in routine radiology practice. This article is a review of the various imaging modalities currently used in the evaluation of neuroendocrine neoplasms, along with a discussion of the role of advanced imaging techniques and a glimpse into the newer imaging horizons, mostly in the research stage.     

mTOR expression and activity patterns in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Clinical trials indicate efficacy of drugs inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET); however, information on detailed expression and activity patterns of mTOR in these tumours is sparse. We investigated the expression of mTOR and expression as well as phosphorylation of its downstream targets 4EBP1, S6K and eIF4E in a cohort of 99 human GEP-NET by immunohistochemistry. We correlated our findings with clinicopathological variables and patient prognosis. We found that 61, 93, 80, 69, 57 and 79% of GEP-NET were positive for mTOR, 4EBP1, cytoplasmic phospho-4EBP1 (p-4EBP1), nuclear p-4EBP1, phospho-S6K (p-S6K) and phospho-eIF4E (p-eIF4E) respectively. mTOR expression and activity were higher in foregut than in midgut tumours. In foregut tumours, expression of mTOR was higher when distant metastases were present (P=0.035). Strong mTOR activity was associated with higher proliferative capacity. In patients with stage IV midgut tumours, strong p-S6K expression was associated with poor disease-specific survival (P=0.048). In conclusion, mTOR shows considerable variations in expression and activity patterns in GEP-NET in dependence of tumour location and metastatic status. We hypothesise that these differences in mTOR expression and activity might possibly influence response to mTOR inhibitors.     

Somatostatin analogues in functioning gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: literature review,clinical recommendations and schedules

Objective Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) represent a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, which include functioning and non-functioning forms. Somatostatin analogues (SSAs) play a key role in the management of these tumours. Herein, we aimed at reviewing the current evidence about the role of SSAs in the treatment of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP)-NETs. Material and methods An extensive bibliographical search was performed in PubMed using the following keywords: gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, somatostatin analogues, octreotide, lanreotide, in order to identify all the pertinent English-written articles published between 1990 and 2015. Results SSAs have shown to help the symptomatic and biochemical improvement of patients with NETs and to exhibit a good safety profile. Recent studies have also reported a role for SSAs in tumour growth control, although the results are less impressive and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Conclusions SSAs are well known as a symptomatic and, to lesser extent, anti-proliferative treatment in GEP-NETs. However, some issues, including optimal dosage, benefits and adverse events of combination with other molecules, and the role of new analogues, remain to be elucidated in further randomised studies.     

Catecholamine production in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

OBJECTIVE: Amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation is a classical feature of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Production of catecholamines was studied in GEP NET and non-NET patients. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was undertaken. METHODS: We studied catecholamine and metabolite secretion in 115 consecutive GEP NET patients and in 20 patients with non-NET. After specific extraction, vanilmandelic acid, homovanilic acid, catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) and methoxylated derivates (metanephrine, normetanephrine, methoxytyramine) in urinary extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results were indexed to the 24-h urinary creatinine levels. RESULTS: Among the 115 patients with NET, 9 (8%) had an increase of at least one urinary catecholamine or metabolite; in 7 out of the 9 the increase was slight being less than twice the upper value of the normal range. Elevated urinary dopamine (3 patients), methoxytyramine (6 patients), norepinephrine (2 patients) and normetanephrine (2 patients) were found. No increased urinary excretion of epinephrine nor metanephrine was observed. An adrenal mass existed in one of these nine patients but metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy was negative as was immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers. None of the 20 patients with non-NET demonstrated an increased excretion of catecholamine or metabolites. No relationships were found between catecholamine and metabolite excretions and patients' tumor and treatment characteristics. CONCLUSION: Production of catecholamines and metabolites is a rare event in GEP NET patients. Histological results, including positive immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers may help to diagnose GEP NET.     

胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤的内镜诊治进展

神经内分泌肿瘤以胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤最常见,其在各消化器官中的组织形态学、病理分型、免疫表型、生物学行为等方面各有不同,相关的治疗手段及预后情况亦差别很大。本文通过解读相关指南,对胃肠胰神经内分泌肿瘤的内镜诊治进展作一梳理。     

From basic to clinical research in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor disease -- the clinician-scientist perspective

Patients with rare tumors represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for non-specialized physicians, surgeons and other medical doctors. Whereas several specialized centers have gathered data for an improved diagnosis and therapy of neuroendocrine tumor disease, numerous clinical issues have not been resolved on an evidence-based medicine level. Furthermore, the evaluation of new treatment options has been overshadowed by the low incidence of the disease. In this article, a major medical challenge for the diagnosis and therapy of neuroendocrine tumor disease is addressed. As well, new therapeutic treatment options translated from current findings in the fields of molecular and tumor biology are discussed.     

New insights in diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are rare epithelial neoplasms derived from pluripotent endocrine cells along the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. GEP-NENs are classified into well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. Despite overlapping morphological features, GEP-NENs vary in molecular biology, epigenetic, clinical behavior, treatment response, and prognosis features and remain an unmet clinical challenge. In this review, we introduce recent updates on the histopathologic classification, including the tumor grading and staging system, molecular genetics, and systemic evaluation of the diagnosis and treatment of GEP-NENs at different anatomic sites, together with some insights into the diagnosis of challenging and unusual cases. We also discuss the application of novel therapeutic approaches for GEP-NENs, including peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These findings will help improve patient care with precise diagnosis and individualized treatment of patients with GEP-NENs.