Epidemiological and Clinical Studies in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a group of rare tumors, with variable biological behaviors and unpredictable response to existing treatments. In this project we will conduct several epidemiological and clinical studies, a systematic review and a meta-analysis in gastroenteropancreatic NEN (GEP-NENs), with special focus in small intestinal and pancreatic-NENs (SI-NENs and Pan-NENs, respectively).
We will evaluate the long-term outcomes of GEP-NEN patients with localized / regional disease with regard to tumor- and patient-related factors, which may predict recurrence. We will study the effects of certain medications, such as beta-blockade and metformin in GEP-NEN patients, quality of life aspects of patients with GEP-NEN, and analyze the clinical value of newly introduced biomarkers. In addition, we plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the appropriateness of surgical resection of the primary tumor, in patients with PanNEN and distant metastases.