Clinical characteristics and prognostic value of serological markers in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a single-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment strategies and prognostic factors of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 pNET patients treated at Huzhou Central Hospital from January 2003 to December 2023. The data included age, gender, function, tumor location, tumor size, pathological characteristics, lymph nodes, metastasis, and treatment. Association of these factors with pNET prognosis was proven by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The incidence of G3 tumors in this group of advanced patients was relatively high (P=0.001). Meanwhile, elevated CA125 was commonly seen in the advanced stage (P=0.045), and surgeries occurred more frequently in the early stage (P=0.003). In addition, the positive expression of CD56 in low-grade tumors was relatively high (P=0.014). The incidence of non-functional tumors larger than 2 cm was high (P=0.015). Univariate Cox regression revealed that tumor size >2 cm, G3 grade, liver metastasis, advanced stage, lymph node metastasis and invasion were risk factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that G3 grade, liver metastasis and advanced stage were independent influencing factors for disease progression.

CONCLUSION

pNETs are heterogeneous tumors. Pathological grade, metastatic status, and serological markers may assist in diagnosis and prognosis assessment, aiding individualized clinical management.