BACKGROUND: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) may evolve and cause hormonal hypersecretion-related symptoms that were not present at the initial diagnosis, termed metachronous hormonal syndromes (MHSs). Their setting, characteristics, and outcomes are not well-described. OBJECTIVE: To describe MHSs in patients with sporadic PNETs. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter study. SETTING: 4 French referral centers. PATIENTS: Patients with PNETs who developed MHSs related to hypersecretion of insulin, gastrin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, or glucagon between January 2009 and January 2014. MEASUREMENTS: Tumor extension, biological markers, and treatments at initial PNET diagnosis and MHS onset. Pathologic specimens were evaluated centrally, including Ki-67 index and hormone immunolabeling. RESULTS: Of 435 patients with PNETs, 15 (3.4%) were identified as having MHSs involving the hypersecretion of insulin (5 patients), vasoactive intestinal peptide (5 patients), gastrin (2 patients), or glucagon (4 patients). Metachronous hormonal syndromes developed after a median of 55 months (range, 7 to 219) and in the context of PNET progression, stability, and tumor response in 8, 6, and 1 patients, respectively. The median Ki-67 index was 7% (range, 1% to 19%) at PNET diagnosis and 17.5% (range, 2.0% to 70.0%) at MHS onset. Immunolabeling of MHS-related peptides was retrospectively found in 8 of 14 of pathologic PNET specimens obtained before MHS diagnosis. Median survival after MHS onset was 28 months (range, 3 to 56). Seven patients with MHSs died during follow-up, all due to PNETs, including 4 patients with insulin-related MHSs. LIMITATION: Retrospective data collection and heterogeneity of pathologic specimen size and origin. CONCLUSION: Metachronous hormonal syndromes were identified more often in the context of PNET progression and increased Ki-67 indices. Patients with insulin-related MHSs may have decreased survival rates. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.
BACKGROUND:Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) may evolve and cause hormonal hypersecretion-related symptoms that were not present at the initial diagnosis, termed metachronous hormonal syndromes (MHSs). Their setting, characteristics, and outcomes are not well-described. OBJECTIVE: To describe MHSs in patients with sporadic PNETs. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter study. SETTING: 4 French referral centers. PATIENTS: Patients with PNETs who developed MHSs related to hypersecretion of insulin, gastrin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, or glucagon between January 2009 and January 2014. MEASUREMENTS: Tumor extension, biological markers, and treatments at initial PNET diagnosis and MHS onset. Pathologic specimens were evaluated centrally, including Ki-67 index and hormone immunolabeling. RESULTS: Of 435 patients with PNETs, 15 (3.4%) were identified as having MHSs involving the hypersecretion of insulin (5 patients), vasoactive intestinal peptide (5 patients), gastrin (2 patients), or glucagon (4 patients). Metachronous hormonal syndromes developed after a median of 55 months (range, 7 to 219) and in the context of PNET progression, stability, and tumor response in 8, 6, and 1 patients, respectively. The median Ki-67 index was 7% (range, 1% to 19%) at PNET diagnosis and 17.5% (range, 2.0% to 70.0%) at MHS onset. Immunolabeling of MHS-related peptides was retrospectively found in 8 of 14 of pathologic PNET specimens obtained before MHS diagnosis. Median survival after MHS onset was 28 months (range, 3 to 56). Seven patients with MHSs died during follow-up, all due to PNETs, including 4 patients with insulin-related MHSs. LIMITATION: Retrospective data collection and heterogeneity of pathologic specimen size and origin. CONCLUSION: Metachronous hormonal syndromes were identified more often in the context of PNET progression and increased Ki-67 indices. Patients with insulin-related MHSs may have decreased survival rates. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.