ASO Author Reflections: Outcomes of Gastroesophageal Neuroendocrine Tumors

Excerpt

Gastroesophageal neuroendocrine tumors (GE-NETs) are rare tumors with a variable clinical course, and with the exception of indolent, gastrin-dependent type I and II NETs, epidemiologic patterns within these sites are largely undescribed. Poorly differentiated GE-NETs, in particular, are highly aggressive with known median survival of less than 1 year.1 However, treatment algorithms rely on those for small cell lung cancer,2 with only limited, mostly retrospective data evaluating treatment regimens specific for these patients.3^,4 Additionally, little is known regarding optimal surgical management of these often invasive and metastatic tumors. This study utilized the National Cancer Database, a combined endeavor of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society which provides a large cohort of these rare patients, to define risk factors for aggressive behavior and evaluate treatment strategies.5 …