Chilean Registry for Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Latin American Perspective

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare and highly heterogeneous neoplasms. Despite this, recent studies from North America and Central Europe have suggested an increase in incidence. In Latin America, NET data are scarce and scattered with only a few studies reporting registries. Our goal was to establish a NET registry in Chile. Here, we report the establishment and our first 166 NET patients. We observed a slight preponderance of males, a median age at diagnosis of 53 years and a median overall survival of 110 months. As anticipated, most tumors were gastroenteropancreatic (GEP). Survival analyses demonstrated that non-GEP or stage IV tumors presented significantly lower overall survival (OS). Similarly, patients with surgery classified as R0 had better OS compared to R1, R2, or no surgery. Furthermore, patients with elevated chromogranin A (CgA) or high Ki67 showed a trend to poorer OS; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (log-rank test p = 0.07). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a NET registry in Chile. Median OS in our registry (110 months) is in line with other registries from Argentina and Spain. Other variables including age at diagnosis and gender were similar to previous studies; however, our data indicate a high proportion of small-bowel NETs compared to other cohorts, reflecting the need for NET regional registries. Indeed, these registries may explain regional discrepancies in incidence and distribution, adding to our knowledge on this seemingly rare, highly heterogeneous disease.

Keywords: Cancer registry; Chromogranin A; Neuroendocrine tumors; Overall survival.

Fig. 1

Kaplan–Meier survival curves in Chilean NET patients. a For all patients recorded in this registry (n = 166). b According to tumor primary site, comparing GEP versus non-GEP (Log Rank test p = 0.0073). c By tumor stage, comparing stage I, II and III against stage IV (log-rank test p = 0.0050). d By quality of surgery, comparing no surgery, R0, or R1+R2+other grouped (log-rank test p < 0.0001). e By CgA levels comparing normal (< 100 ng/ml) versus elevated (≥ 100 ng/ml) (log-rank test p = 0.07). f By Ki67, comparing low (0–2%), intermediate (3–20%), and high (> 20%) levels (log-rank p = 0.07). The number of patients at risk over time, in each case, is indicated at the bottom of every graph