Τόμος 32 (2018) – Τεύχος 3 –Άρθρο 4 – Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics – Διεθνής Έκδοση – Volume 32 (2018) – Issue 3 – Article 4 – Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics – International Edition

Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET’s) constitutes a group of rare, diverse and heterogeneous malignancies comprising ~2% of all malignancies, with a prevalence of <200,000 in the United States. NET’s are characterized with various molecular genetics, tumor biology, localization and clinical features. For simplistic purpsoes, NET’s are divided into two groups on the basis of clinical behavior, histology, and proliferation rate, a) well differentiated (low grade to intermediate grade) neuroendocrine tumors and b) poorly differentiated (high grade) neuroendocrine carcinomas. In this comprehensive review an introductory attempt for health care workers is provided to describe current incidence, modern classification, comparison of staging systems, and major histopatholgy findings. Finally, a specific focus is set on the carcinoid syndrome, that results from the synergistic action of serotonin, kinins and prostaglandins to enhance awareness of related health practitioners and aid a prominent clinical diagnosis.

1. Modlin, I.M. and K. Öberg, A Century of Advances in Neuroendocrine Tumor Biology and Treatment. 2007: Felsenstein C.C.C.P.
2. Ascoli, V., G.A. Newman, and T.S. Kline, Grimelius stain for cytodiagnosismof carcinoid tumor. Diagn Cytopathol, 1986. 2(2): pp. 157-9.
3. Yao, J.C., et al., One hundred years after “carcinoid”: epidemiology of andnprognostic factors for neuroendocrine tumors in 35,825 cases in the United States. J Clin Oncol, 2008. 26(18): pp. 3063-72.
4. van der Lely, A.J. and W.W. de Herder, Carcinoid syndrome: diagnosis and medical management. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol, 2005. 49(5): pp. 850-60.
5. Berardi, R., et al., Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: Searching the optimal treatment strategy–A literature review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, 2016. 98: 264-74.
6. Robertson, R.G., W.J. Geiger, and N.B. Davis, Carcinoid tumors. Am Fam Physician, 2006. 74(3): pp. 429-34.
7. James C. Yao, M., Paulo M. Hoff, MD, Ana O. Hoff, MD, Neuroendocrine tumors 2011.
8. (Turin), P.M. and d.H.W.W. (Rotterdam), Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2015. 44.
9. Metz, D.C. and R.T. Jensen, Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors. Gastroenterology, 2008. 135(5): p. 1469- 1492.
10. Kaltsas, G.A., G.M. Besser, and A.B. Grossman, The diagnosis and medical management of advanced neuroendocrine tumors. Endocr Rev, 2004. 25(3): p. 458-511.
11. Li, T.T., et al., Classification, clinicopathologic features and treatment of gastric neuroendocrine tumors. World J Gastroenterol, 2014. 20(1): 118- 25.
12. Scherubl, H., et al., [Neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach (gastric carcinoids) are on the rise: good prognosis with early detection]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 2009. 134(30): p. 1529-35.
13. Tang, L.H., et al., Pathologic classification and clinical behavior of the spectrum of goblet cell carcinoid tumors of the appendix. Am J Surg Pathol, 2008. 32(10): 1429-43.
14. Almeida, M.Q. and C.A. Stratakis, Solid tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasias. Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 2010. 203(1): 30-6.
15. Klimstra, D.S., et al., The pathologic classification of neuroendocrine tumors: a review of nomenclature, grading, and staging systems. Pancreas, 2010. 39(6):  707-12.

16. Pearman, T.P., et al., Health-related quality of life in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: an investigation of treatment type, disease status, and symptom burden. Support Care Cancer, 2016. 24(9): 3695-703.
17. Bosman, F.T., Carneiro, F., Hruban, R.H., Theise, N.D., WHO Classification of Tumours. Vol. 3. 2010, Lyon, France: IARC Press.
18. Phan, A.T., et al., NANETS consensus guideline for the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumors: well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of the thorax (includes lung and thymus). Pancreas, 2010. 39(6): 784-98.
19. Rindi, G., et al., TNM staging of foregut (neuro)endocrine tumors: a consensus proposal including a grading system. Virchows Arch, 2006. 449(4): 395-401.
20. Rindi, G., et al., TNM staging of midgut and hindgut (neuro) endocrine tumors: a consensus proposal including a grading system. Virchows Arch, 2007, 451(4): 757-62.
21. Aejaz Nasir , D.C., Neuroendocrine Tumors: Review of Pathology, Molecular and Therapeutic Advances. Springer 2016.
22. Hirabayashi, K., et al., Histopathology of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms. Front Oncol, 2013, 3: 2.
23. Tanaka, T., et al., Mediastinal tumor of thymic origin and related to carcinoid tumor. Acta Pathol Jpn, 1974. 24(3): p. 413-26.
24. CD, F., Diagnostic histopathology of tumors. 2 ed. 2000, Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone.
25. Van Gompel, J.J., et al., Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors: factors that predict outcome. World J Surg, 2004. 28(4): 387-92.
26. Greenblatt, D.Y., M. Kunnimalaiyaan, and H. Chen, Raf-1 activation in gastrointestinal carcinoid cells decreases tumor cell adhesion. Am J Surg, 2007. 193(3): 331-5; discussion 335.
27. Boutzios, G. and G. Kaltsas, Clinical Syndromes Related to GastrointestinalNeuroendocrine Neoplasms. Front Horm Res, 2015. 44: 40-57.