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Merola E, Michielan A, Rozzanigo U, Erini M, Sferrazza S, Marcucci S, Sartori C, Trentin C, de Pretis G, Chierichetti F. Therapeutic strategies for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: State-of-the-art and future perspectives. World J Gastrointest Surg 2022; 14:78-106. [PMID: 35317548 PMCID: PMC8908345 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v14.i2.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) have always been considered rare tumors, their incidence has risen over the past few decades. They represent a highly heterogeneous group of neoplasms with several prognostic factors, including disease stage, proliferative index (Ki67), and tumor differentiation. Most of these neoplasms express somatostatin receptors on the cell surface, a feature that has important implications in terms of prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy. Although International Guidelines propose algorithms aimed at guiding therapeutic strategies, GEP-NEN patients are still very different from one another, and the need for personalized treatment continues to increase. Radical surgery is always the best option when feasible; however, up to 80% of cases are metastatic upon diagnosis. Regarding medical treatments, as GEP-NENs are characterized by relatively long overall survival, multiple therapy lines are adopted during the lifetime of these patients, but the optimum sequence to be followed has never been clearly defined. Furthermore, although new molecular markers aimed at predicting the response to therapy, as well as prognostic scores, are currently being studied, their application is still far from being part of daily clinical practice. As they represent a complex disease, with therapeutic protocols that are not completely standardized, GEP-NENs require a multidisciplinary approach. This review will provide an overview of the available therapeutic options for GEP-NENs and attempts to clarify the possible approaches for the management of these patients and to discuss future perspectives in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elettra Merola
- Department of Gastroenterology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Andrea Michielan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Umberto Rozzanigo
- Department of Radiology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Marco Erini
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Sandro Sferrazza
- Department of Gastroenterology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Stefano Marcucci
- Department of Surgery, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Chiara Sartori
- Department of Pathology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Chiara Trentin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Giovanni de Pretis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Franca Chierichetti
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento 38122, Italy
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