Clinicopathological Study of 100 Cases of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Gastroenteropancreatic System: A Tertiary Cancer Center Experience

Abstract

Background: The incidence of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) is on the rise. Although the clinicopathologic characteristics of NENs have been previously reviewed in the literature, the data published in the Indian literature so far are sparse. This study aims to review the clinicopathological features of GEP-NENs, diagnosed at our institution, and that were classified and graded according to the World Health Organization 2010 classification system. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients with GEP-NENs presenting to our institute from August 2012 to May 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data and tumor characteristics were expressed as number, percentage, and mean value. Tumor grade was correlated to metastasis through the Chi-square test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 100 cases studied, 58 were male and 42 were female. The most common primary site was the pancreas (n = 36), followed by the small intestine (n = 19), esophagus (n = 17), stomach (n = 15), colon (n = 6), rectum (n = 4), and appendix (n = 3). The incidence of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) Grade 1 (NET G1) was higher (n = 40) compared to NET Grade 2 (NET G2) (n = 25) and neuroendocrine carcinoma Grade 3 (NEC G3) (n = 35). Overall in these 100 cases, NET G1 tumors and NET G2 tumors were most common in the pancreas (n = 18/36) and (n = 13/36), respectively. NEC G3 tumors were most common in the esophagus (n = 16/17). The most common site of distant metastasis was the liver (n = 23/26). Conclusion: We elucidated the epidemiological and clinicopathological features of patients presenting to our institute with GEP-NENs.

Keywords

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm - neuroendocrine carcinoma Grade 3 - neuroendocrine tumor Grade 1 - neuroendocrine tumor Grade 2 - World Health Organization 2010 classification

Introduction

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) originate from the neuroendocrine cell system distributed throughout the body. They can develop at any site, with the majority arising from the gastroenteropancreatic system (GEP). They comprise a heterogeneous family with complex clinical behavior.

The incidence of GEP-NENs was reported to be 3.65/100,000 individuals per year according to the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database program.[1] The incidence has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to advanced diagnostic methods and increased awareness of the disorder.

In 1907, Oberndofer first described these tumors as “Carcinoid,” a carcinoma-like tumor which was considered to have less malignant potential.[2] In 2000 and 2004, respectively, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) into well-differentiated tumors and poorly differentiated tumors.[3] According to the WHO 2010 classification, GEP-NENs are classified as NET and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) based on cell proliferation. NETs are further subdivided into NET Grade 1 (NET G1) (mitoses <2/10 high-power field <xref>HPF</xref> and Ki-67 index ≤2%) and NET Grade 2 (NET G2) (mitoses 2–20/10 HPF or Ki-67 indx 3%–20%). NEC Grade 3 (NEC G3) has mitoses >20/10 HPF or Ki-67 index >20%.[4]

In the WHO 2017 classification[5] and AJCC 8th edition, those tumors with typical morphology of well-differentiated tumors and with mitoses >20/10 HPF or Ki-67 index >20% are classified as “well-differentiated NET” but as Grade 3. This grading scheme (Grade 1–3) based on the above mitotic activity or Ki-67 index is recommended for well-differentiated GEP-NETs. In the present study, in addition to the demographic and clinical characteristics, we analyzed the histopathological feature along with the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining pattern of 100 cases of GEP-NENs presenting to our institute.

Materials and Methods

This was a hospital-based retrospective study of 100 cases of GEP-NENs diagnosed at our institution from August 2012 to May 2016. Patients with histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis of GEP-NENs from the primary site were included, whereas metastasis of unknown origin was excluded from the study. Clinicopathological characteristics, including age, gender, symptoms, primary location of the tumor, histopathological diagnosis, IHC findings, presence or absence of metastasis, and treatment given to the patients, were retrieved from the medical records. The tumor grade was determined according to the WHO 2010 classification, with the estimation of Ki-67 index in areas of high nuclear labeling (“Hotspots”). Mitoses/10 HPF were counted for grading in cases where Ki-67 was not available.

Biostatistics

The demographic data and tumor characteristics were expressed as number, percentage, and mean value. Tumor grade was correlated to metastasis using the Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Clinical features

We identified a total of 100 patients diagnosed with GEP-NENs, of which 58 were male and 42 were female. The mean age at the diagnosis was 51.3 years (range: 22–77 years). The most common primary site was the pancreas (n = 36), followed by the small intestine (n = 19), esophagus (n = 17), stomach (n = 15), colon (n = 6), rectum (n = 4), and appendix (n = 3) [Figure 1]. In the pancreas, most of the NENs were localized in the head (n = 20), followed by tail and body. In the esophagus, most of the NENs were localized in the lower third (n = 11), followed by middle third (n = 3), and upper third (n = 3). Overall, the most frequent initial presentation was abdominal pain (n = 40), followed by dysphagia (n = 26), vomiting (n = 22), anorexia (n = 19), change in bowel habits (n = 17), weight loss (n = 11), gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 7), and jaundice (n = 7). Biopsies of the patients were received, on which the histopathological diagnoses were made, followed by the confirmation by immunohistochemistry.{Figure 1}

Figure 1: Pie chart showing the distribution of primary tumor site

Histopathological characteristics

The growth patterns in NETs were either predominantly or a combination of nested, insular, glandular, trabecular, festoon, and gyriform (n = 65). NEC had a more diffuse growth pattern (n = 35) [Figure 2].{Figure 2}

Figure 2: (a) Nests of tumor cells of neuroendocrine tumor Grade 1 in the submucosa of the stomach (H and E, ×40). (b) Tumor cells of neuroendocrine tumor Grade 2 with a trabecular and gyriform pattern in the pancreas (H and E, ×10). (c) Tumor cells of neuroendocrine carcinoma Grade 3 with the submucosa in the esophagus (H and E, ×40)

Of the total 100 patients, 40 patients had NET G1 (40%), 25 patients had NET G2 (25%), and 35 patients had NEC G3 (35%). Overall, NET G1 and NET G2 were most common in the pancreas (n = 18/36) and (n = 13/36), respectively. Other common sites of NET G1 tumors were the small intestine, stomach, and colon, whereas the other common sites for NET G2 tumors were the stomach. The incidence of NEC G3 was the highest in the esophagus (n = 16/35) followed by the small intestine (n = 7/35). All the NEC G3 cases in our study were poorly differentiated NEC. The distribution of GEP-NENs according to site and grade is summarized in [Table 1].

Table 1

Distribution of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms according to site and grade

Site	NET G1, n (%)	NET G2, n (%)	NET G3, n (%)	Total
NET – Neuroendocrine tumor; NEC – Neuroendocrine carcinoma
Esophagus	0	1 (5.8)	16 (94.2)	17
Stomach	5 (33.3)	8(53.3)	2 (13.3)	15
Small intestine	10 (52.6)	2 (10.6)	7 (36.8)	19
Appendix	3 (100)	0	0	3
Colon	4 (66.7)	0	2 (33.3)	6
Rectum	0	1 (25)	3 (75)	4
Pancreas	18 (50)	13 (36.1)	5 (13.9)	36

IHC positivity for chromogranin and synaptophysin was seen in 95% (n = 38/40) and 95% (n = 38/40) in Grade 1, 96% (n = 24/25) and 100% (n = 25/25) in Grade 2, and 80% (n = 28/35) and 94% (n = 33/35) in Grade 3 tumors, respectively [Figure 3].{Figure 3}

Figure 3: (a) Immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity for synaptophysin (×40). (b) Immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity for chromogranin (×40)

Ki67 labelling index was helpful in grading of the tumours [Figure 4] in 85% (n = 85/100) of the cases, with the rest of 15% (n = 15/100) graded by mictotic count. Ki67 labelling index was in range of 0-2% with mean of 1% in NET G1, in range of 3-17% with mean of 8% in NET G2 and in range of 23-100% with mean of 62% in NEC G3.

Figure 4: (a) Ki 67 labeling index – 1% in neuroendocrine tumor Grade 1 (×40). (b) Ki 67 labeling index – 15% in neuroendocrine tumor Grade 2 (c) Ki 67 labeling index – 80% in neuroendocrine carcinoma Grade 3

Twenty-six patients developed distant metastasis (26%). The most common site of distant metastasis was the liver (88.4%, n = 23/26), followed by the lung, lymph nodes, and adrenal gland (3.9%, n = 1/26 in each of the 3 latter sites, respectively). Distant metastasis was more commonly seen in patients with NEC G3 tumors (n = 14) as compared with patients with NET G1 (n = 2) and NET G2 (n = 10) tumors, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was established between higher tumor grade and distant metastasis [Table 2]. Of the 14 Grade 3 tumors that metastasized, 6 were from the esophagus, 4 from the pancreas, 2 from the small intestine, and 2 from the rectum. Of the 10 Grade 2 tumors that metastasized, 5 were from the stomach, 3 from the pancreas, 1 from the rectum, and 1 from the esophagus. Of the 2 Grade 1 tumors that metastasized, 1 was from the pancreas and 1 from the colon.

Table 2

Relationship between tumor grade and metastasis

Tumor grade	Number of cases	Metastatic	Non-metastatic	x	P
NET – Neuroendocrine tumor; NEC – Neuroendocrine carcinoma
NET G1	40	2	38	15.281	0.0005 (result is statistically significant at P<0.05)
NET G2	25	10	15
NEC G3	35	14	21

Treatment modalities

Forty-three (n = 43) patients underwent surgical resection, namely Whipple's procedure (n = 13), right hemicolectomy (n = 5), esophagectomy (n = 5), pancreatic resection (n = 3), appendectomy (n = 2), partial gastrectomy (n = 3), abdominoperineal resection (n = 2), and wide local excision (n = 10). Combination platinum-based chemotherapy regimens comprising etoposide and carboplatin/cisplatin were given to thirty (n = 30) patients. Six (n = 6) patients received radiotherapy and 17 (n = 17) patients received octreotide. Of thirty patients receiving chemotherapy, 14 (n = 14) patients received chemotherapy as the only treatment, 15 (n = 15) patients received chemotherapy adjuvant to surgery, and a single (n = 1) patient received chemotherapy with radiotherapy. Of six patients receiving radiotherapy, three patients (n = 3) received only palliative radiotherapy, two patients (n = 2) received radiotherapy adjuvant to surgery and chemotherapy, and single patient (n = 1) received radiotherapy with chemotherapy. Of the 17 patients who received octreotide, five patients (n = 5) were treated only with octreotide and 12 patients (n = 12) received octreotide after surgery.

Discussion

The incidence of NENs is on the rise. However, there have been limited data published on GEP-NENs in Indian literature. In this study, we analyzed data from 100 patients with primary GEP-NENs, classified according to the WHO 2010 classification system[4] and assessed the epidemiological and tumor characteristics.

In our study, the mean age at the diagnosis was 51 years, which was similar to various other studies.[6],[7],[8],[9] As others have previously reported,[6],[7] most patients in our study presented clinically with abdominal pain.

The small intestine and appendix have been cited as the most common site for GEP-NENs in the older literature,[1],[10] including studies in the United States[11],[12] and Norway.[13] In our study, the pancreas was the most common primary site for NENs, similar to other studies in the Chinese population.[7],[10],[14] This disparity in distribution is unclear, and racial or ethnic differences could be the possible cause. Better imaging techniques, including the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and biopsy, make the tumors in the pancreas more accessible these days. The low detection rate of small intestinal NENs in our study could possibly be explained by the fact that most small intestinal NENs are asymptomatic and present with symptoms only after metastasis to the liver. Moreover, tumors in the small intestine are often small and difficult to access. The tumors may be submucosal and not easily visualized on routine endoscopy.

In our study, the incidence of NET G1 was higher than NET G2 and NEC G3, similar to other studies.[6],[7],[12],[15] When comparing tumor grade with site, overall NET G1 and G2 tumors were most commonly encountered in the pancreas. A similar Indian study[16] found majority of their tumors in the pancreas to be NET G1 (81.1%). In our study, most of the NENs in the esophagus were NEC G3, in accordance with other studies.[17],[18]

With regard to immunohistochemistry, the most commonly used markers to identify NENs are chromogranin A and synaptophysin.[6],[7],[15] Immunoreactivity to chromogranin A is more commonly seen in well-differentiated NETs, whereas synaptophysin is expressed in both well-differentiated NET and poorly differentiated NECs.[19] In our study, immunoreactivity to chromogranin and synaptophysin was found to be 95% each for Grade 1 tumors, 96% and 100% reactivity for Grade 2 tumors, with 80% and 94% reactivity for Grade 3 tumors, respectively. The liver was the most common site of distant metastasis in our study, similar to other studies.[6],[7],[15],[20] Predominantly, Grade 3 tumors were the ones to metastasize, followed by Grade 2 tumors.

The first choice of treatment for NETs is surgery, even if there are nodal or distant metastases. Whenever possible, the primary tumor should be removed, lymph nodes dissected, and distant metastasis excised.[21] In our study, 43 patients underwent surgical resection. In case of poorly differentiated, advanced GEP-NENs, chemotherapy is usually the first treatment option. In our study, the most widely used chemotherapy regimen was etoposide-cisplatin/etoposide-carboplatin, similar to another study[22] where cisplatin and etoposide were the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs.

The new WHO 2017 classification, introduces a “Neuroendocrine Tumor Grade 3” category (NET G3), to recognize these better behaving, well-differentiated Grade 3 tumors and distinguish them from the poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC G3).[5] All the Grade 3 tumors (n = 35) identified from our study were poorly differentiated.

Conclusion

In our study, the pancreas was the most common site of GEP-NENs followed by the small intestine. Majority of the tumors in our study were NET G1 (40%). Most of the NETs Grade 1 and 2 were present in the pancreas, whereas most NEC G3 occurred in the esophagus. NEC G3 tumors were associated with distant metastasis more frequently as compared to NET G1 and NET G2 tumors, respectively. A national database of GEP-NENs should be established for studying these tumors. We believe that collecting regular national data and long-term follow-up can help in understanding the clinicopathological features of these tumors better.

Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Publication History

Received: 08 October 2018

Accepted: 10 November 2019

Article published online:
28 June 2021