Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-functioning advanced GEP-NENs: a GRADE approach for evidence evaluation and recommendations by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) in collaboration with the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (ITANET)
Affiliations
- 1 Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 2 Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
- 3 Digestive Disease Unit, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- 4 Department of Clinical Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- 5 Endocrine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Specialties, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; Endocrine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
- 6 Nuclear Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Bologna, Italy.
- 7 Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 8 Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
- 9 Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
- 10 Istituto di Oncologia, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy.
- 11 Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- 12 Division of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- 13 Division of Digestive Surgery IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 14 Department of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 15 Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
- 16 Department of Medical Oncology, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 17 Department of Oncology, 'San Luigi Gonzaga' University Hospital, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
- 18 Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialized Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Neuroendocrine Tumor Team Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- 19 Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
- 20 Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 21 Department of Medicine, Oncology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, ENETS Center of Excellence, Verona, Italy.
- 22 Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy; Medical Oncology, AOU Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy.
- 23 Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy; UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
- 24 Gastro-entero-pancreatic Surgical and Liver Transplantation Unit, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 25 Endocrinology Clinics, Clinica Villalba, Bologna, Italy.
- 26 Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, ENETS Center of Excellence, Verona, Italy.
- 27 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- 28 Department of Medical Oncology, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università deli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- 29 Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
- 30 Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 31 Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Hospital IRCCS, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 32 Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
- 33 NET Multidisciplinary Group, Umbria Regional Cancer Network, Perugia, Italy.
- 34 Nuclear Medicine Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
- 35 Onco Interventional Radiology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 36 Division of Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 37 Division of Radiology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 38 Oncologia Medica, Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo, Viagrande, Catania, Italy.
- 39 Division of Nuclear Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 40 AME Past President, Udine, Italy.
- 41 Osteoncology and Rare Tumor Center (CDO-TR), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) 'Dino Amadori', Meldola, Italy.
- 42 National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS), Rome, Italy.
- 43 Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome-Radiology Unit-Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
- 44 Department of Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 45 Department of Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
- 46 Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Divisione Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Milan, Italy.
- 47 Gastro-entero-pancreatic Surgical and Liver Transplantation Unit, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- 48 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
- 49 First Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 50 Department of Oncology, Ospedale P. Pederzoli, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
- 51 Unit of Pathology, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- 52 Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- 53 Departments of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 54 Division of Endoscopy, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 55 SC Endocrinologia, Diabetologia e Malattie del Metabolismo, AO Ordine Mauriziano, Turin, Italy.
- 56 Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
- 57 Division of Pancreatic Surgery, IRCCS, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- 58 Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy.
- 59 Oncology and Breast Unit, Ospedale 'A. Perrino', Brindisi, Italy.
- 60 Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 61 Oncologia Clinica e Sperimentale Sarcomi e Tumori Rari, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 62 General Surgery, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 63 Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- 64 Department of Oncology, University of Turin, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, Turin, Italy.
- 65 Clinical Trial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 66 Digestive Disease Unit, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.panzuto@uniroma1.it.
- 67 Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: nicola.fazio@ieo.it.
- PMID: 41223791
- DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105878
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-functioning advanced GEP-NENs: a GRADE approach for evidence evaluation and recommendations by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) in collaboration with the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (ITANET)
Authors
Affiliations
- 1 Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 2 Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
- 3 Digestive Disease Unit, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- 4 Department of Clinical Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- 5 Endocrine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Specialties, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; Endocrine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
- 6 Nuclear Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Bologna, Italy.
- 7 Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 8 Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
- 9 Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
- 10 Istituto di Oncologia, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy.
- 11 Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- 12 Division of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- 13 Division of Digestive Surgery IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 14 Department of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 15 Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
- 16 Department of Medical Oncology, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 17 Department of Oncology, 'San Luigi Gonzaga' University Hospital, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
- 18 Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialized Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Neuroendocrine Tumor Team Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- 19 Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
- 20 Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 21 Department of Medicine, Oncology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, ENETS Center of Excellence, Verona, Italy.
- 22 Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy; Medical Oncology, AOU Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy.
- 23 Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy; UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
- 24 Gastro-entero-pancreatic Surgical and Liver Transplantation Unit, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 25 Endocrinology Clinics, Clinica Villalba, Bologna, Italy.
- 26 Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, ENETS Center of Excellence, Verona, Italy.
- 27 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- 28 Department of Medical Oncology, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università deli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- 29 Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
- 30 Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 31 Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Hospital IRCCS, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 32 Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
- 33 NET Multidisciplinary Group, Umbria Regional Cancer Network, Perugia, Italy.
- 34 Nuclear Medicine Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
- 35 Onco Interventional Radiology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 36 Division of Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 37 Division of Radiology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 38 Oncologia Medica, Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo, Viagrande, Catania, Italy.
- 39 Division of Nuclear Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 40 AME Past President, Udine, Italy.
- 41 Osteoncology and Rare Tumor Center (CDO-TR), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) 'Dino Amadori', Meldola, Italy.
- 42 National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS), Rome, Italy.
- 43 Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome-Radiology Unit-Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
- 44 Department of Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 45 Department of Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
- 46 Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Divisione Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Milan, Italy.
- 47 Gastro-entero-pancreatic Surgical and Liver Transplantation Unit, Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- 48 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
- 49 First Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 50 Department of Oncology, Ospedale P. Pederzoli, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
- 51 Unit of Pathology, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- 52 Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- 53 Departments of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 54 Division of Endoscopy, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 55 SC Endocrinologia, Diabetologia e Malattie del Metabolismo, AO Ordine Mauriziano, Turin, Italy.
- 56 Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
- 57 Division of Pancreatic Surgery, IRCCS, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- 58 Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy.
- 59 Oncology and Breast Unit, Ospedale 'A. Perrino', Brindisi, Italy.
- 60 Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, ENETS Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy.
- 61 Oncologia Clinica e Sperimentale Sarcomi e Tumori Rari, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, ENETS Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy.
- 62 General Surgery, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
- 63 Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- 64 Department of Oncology, University of Turin, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, Turin, Italy.
- 65 Clinical Trial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
- 66 Digestive Disease Unit, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.panzuto@uniroma1.it.
- 67 Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, IEO, IRCCS, ENETS and EURACAN NEN Center of Excellence, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: nicola.fazio@ieo.it.
- PMID: 41223791
- DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105878
Abstract
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tract represent a rare and heterogeneous group of malignancies. They are distinguished into well-differentiated and poorly differentiated neoplasms, with clinical behavior ranging from relatively indolent to fast-growing, respectively. Surgery is the curative option for localized disease, especially in well-differentiated neoplasms, while various systemic therapies are approved and clinically available for advanced disease. However, considering the complexity of these malignancies, the choice of therapeutic strategy must take into account multiple factors, such as histological diagnosis, primary site, extent of disease, evolution features, functional status, patients and treatment characteristics, treatment availability, and safety profile. A multidisciplinary approach dedicated to NENs and conducted by experienced teams is therefore strongly recommended. Since 2013, the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), in collaboration with the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (ITANET), has produced guidelines using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach for assessing the certainty of evidence. This updated version (2024) summarized the main diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making processes on specific topics selected by a panel of experts from the AIOM, ITANET, and other national scientific societies with the aim of guiding clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with GEP-NENs. The integration of these guidelines into daily clinical practice is expected to improve patient care and drive the evolving landscape of GEP-NEN management.
Keywords: AIOM; GEP-NENs; ITANET; clinical practice guidelines; gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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