Efficacy of FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Metastatic Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Abstract

Background/aim: FOLFOX (5-Fluorouracile and oxaliplatin) exhibits promising activity in advanced well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcome of metastatic enteropancreatic NETs patients treated with FOLFOX.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively identified patients treated with FOLFOX for NETs of enteropancreatic or unknown origin among those referred to our Regional Multidisciplinary Tumor Board.

Results: Among 48 patients, most often pancreatic NETs (n=33, 68.8%), the median Ki67 index was 10%. The median number cycle of FOLFOX was 6 and median follow-up was 34.8 months. Disease control rate (DCR) was 83.3%. Median PFS and OS were 12.6 and 29.4 months respectively. Median chemotherapy break was 14.1 months. No significant difference was observed between PFS and the following criteria: Ki67 index, primary tumor site, alkaline phosphatase levels, primary tumor surgery and ¹⁸F-FDG PET positivity.

Conclusion: FOLFOX exhibits a high DCR and a short duration of treatment with a relative long chemotherapy break in patients with metastatic enteropancreatic NETs.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors; metastases; oxaliplatin.