In patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours, there is no apparent benefit of somatostatin analogues after disease control by peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

PURPOSE: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and somatostatin analogues (SSAs) are commonly combined as primary treatment for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN), and SSAs given as maintenance. We sought to evaluate whether sequential therapy with PRRT followed by SSAs has progression or survival benefits in patients with NEN after disease control by PRRT. METHODS: This prospective, randomised, single-centre study had as principal eligibility criteria: unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic, histologically confirmed well-differentiated NEN; no symptoms/biochemical diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome; no SSAs or ≤ 3 months of SSAs before PRRT; and stable disease or partial or complete response after PRRT. Altogether, 115 patients were randomised 2:1 to an SSA group (n = 74) given octreotide acetate LAR every 4 weeks, or a control group (n = 41) receiving only best supportive care. Octreotide treatment was to stop upon intolerable toxicity or patient refusal, or, at physician/patient discretion, upon NEN progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), the secondary endpoint, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Median (25th-75th percentile) follow-up from the first PRRT activity to death or latest observation was 6.6 (3.18-10.22) years. During that time, 71/115 patients (62%) progressed, 52/74 (70%) in the SSA group, and 19/41 (46%) in the control group (p = 0.01). Eighty-eight/115 patients (76%) died, 58/74 (78%) in the SSA group, and 30/41 (73%) in the control group (p = 0.52). Median (95% CI) PFS was 4.7 (2.8-7.7) years in the SSA group, and 6.4 (4.1-not reached) years in controls. Overall, median OS was 6.6 years. Neither PFS nor OS differed between groups (p = 0.129, p = 0.985, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with disease control after PRRT, subsequent SSA treatment appeared not to be associated with better PFS or OS. Whether to continue SSA administration upon progression after PRRT requires evaluation in a prospective, randomised, controlled multicentre study with a relatively homogeneous sample.

[Grading of gynecological tumors : Current aspects]. / Grading gynäkologischer Tumoren : Aktuelle Aspekte.

Histopathological assessment of the tumor grade and cell type is central to the management and prognosis of various gynecological malignancies. Conventional grading systems for squamous carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the vulva, vagina and cervix are poorly defined. For endometrioid tumors of the female genital tract as well as for mucinous endometrial, ovarian and seromucinous ovarian carcinomas, the 3­tiered FIGO grading system is recommended. For uterine neuroendocrine tumors the grading system of the gastrointestinal counterparts has been adopted. Uterine leiomyosarcomas are not graded. Endometrial stromal sarcomas are divided into low and high grades, based on cellular morphology, immunohistochemical and molecular findings. A chemotherapy response score was established for chemotherapeutically treated high-grade serous pelvic cancer. For non-epithelial ovarian malignancies, only Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors and immature teratomas are graded. At this time molecular profiling has no impact on the grading of tumors of the female genital tract.

Platelet-Expressed Synaptophysin (pSyn) as Novel Biomarker in Neuroendocrine Malignancies.

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.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in the management of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: efficacy profile, safety, and quality of life.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), developed over the last two decades, is carried out using radiopharmaceuticals such as 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide and 177Lu-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate (177Lu-Dotatate). These radiocompounds are obtained by labeling a synthetic somatostatin analog with a ß-emitting radioisotope. The compounds differ from each other in terms of their energetic features (due to the radionuclide) and peptide receptor affinity (due to the analog) but share the common characteristic of binding specific membrane somatostatin receptors that are (generally) overexpressed in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and their metastases. NENs are tumors arising from diffuse neuroendocrine system cells that are classified according to grading based on Ki67 percentage values (Grades 1 and 2 are classed as neuroendocrine tumors [NETs]) and to the anatomical site of occurrence (in this paper, we only deal with gastroenteropancreatic [GEP]-NETs, which account for 60%-70% of all NENs). They are also characterized by specific symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing (30% of cases). Despite substantial experience gained in the area of PRRT and its demonstrable effects in terms of efficacy, safety, and improvement in quality of life, these compounds are still not registered (registration of 177Lu-Dotatate for the treatment of midgut NETs is expected soon). Thus, PRRT can only be used in experimental protocols. We provide an overview of the work of leading groups with wide-ranging experience and continuity in data publication in the area of GEP-NET PRRT and report our own personal experience of using different dosage schedules based on the presence of kidney and bone marrow risk factors. Our results on the retreatment of patients previously administered 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide with a low dosage of 177Lu-Dotatate are also included. A comment on potential future developments of PRRT in GEP-NETs is provided.