Aim: To correlate the baseline and change of chromogranin A (CgA) levels with patient survival and tumor response in Asian patients with advanced gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs).
Patients and methods: Sixty patients with advanced GEP-NET treated in a medical center between April 2010 and April 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. Plasma CgA level was analyzed for correlation with the patient's clinical outcome and tumor response.
Results: Multivariate analysis showed that independent favorable prognostic factors for overall survival were: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Groups performance score 0-1, World Health Organization tumor grade 1-2, single organ metastasis and less than twice the upper normal range of baseline CgA levels. Percentage changes in paired CgA tests (ΔCgA) of more than 17% can predict partial response or stable disease from progressive disease with 91.2% sensitivity and 82.9% specificity.
Conclusion: Baseline plasma CgA levels predicted overall survival and ΔCgA predicted treatment response in Asian patients with GEP-NETs.
Keywords: Neuroendocrine tumor; biomarker; chromogranin A; gastroenteropancreatic; tumor response.
Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.