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Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevalence of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Are There Global Differences?

  • Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NS Reed, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of our review is to explore global epidemiologic trends of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Specifically, we sought to examine whether there are differences in incidence, prevalence, distribution (by primary tumor site, tumor grade, tumor stage at presentation), and overall survival of GEP NETs between different regions of the world.

Recent Findings

GEP NET incidence rates are rising steadily in North America, Asia, and Europe, though this rise appears to be most profound in North America. The distribution of GEP NETs differs regionally as in North America small intestinal and rectal NETs are most prevalent, in Asia rectal and pancreatic NETs are most prevalent, and in Europe small intestinal and pancreatic NETs are most prevalent. Overall survival for patients with GEP NETs appears to be improving with time.

Summary

Some of the global increase in GEP NET incidence can be explained by increased health care utilization. This factor alone, however, does not explain the rise completely. Population-based studies utilizing uniform data collection instruments and a standard pathologic grading system are needed to identify other factors which may be contributing to this phenomenon.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 777 Preston Research Building, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA

    Satya Das

  2. Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Arvind Dasari

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Correspondence to Satya Das.

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Conflict of Interest

Satya Das has received research funding from Exelixis and Entrinsic Health, and received compensation from Ipsen for previously serving on a speaker's bureau. Arvind Dasari has received research funding from Novartis / Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA), Hutchison MediPharma, and Eisai, and has served on advisory boards for Ipsen, Novartis / AAA, Lexicon, and Crinetics.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

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Das, S., Dasari, A. Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevalence of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Are There Global Differences?. Curr Oncol Rep 23, 43 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-021-01029-7

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