Risk factors associated with neuroendocrine tumors: A U.S.‐based case–control study

Abstract

TXCarcinoids are rare neuroendocrine tumors (NETs); however, their incidence has significantly increased in the United States over the past 30 years. Little is known about the epidemiology of these cancers and their associated risk factors. We evaluated the independent effects of multiple risk factors associated with NETs arising at 5 disease sites (small intestine, stomach, lung, pancreas and rectum). We conducted a retrospective, hospital-based, casecontrol study involving 740 patients with histologically confirmed NETs and 924 healthy controls. Information on different risk factors was collected, and unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) by the maximum-likelihood method. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not associated with NETs development in either men or women. However, a family history of cancer was a significant risk factor for all NETs. A long-term history of diabetes mellitus was a significant risk factor for gastric NETs (AOR 5 5.6; 95% CI, 2.1-14.5), particularly in women (AOR 5 8.4; 95% CI, 1.9-38.1). Diabetes modified the risk among women with a positive family history of cancer for the development of gastric NETs (AOR 5 52.2; 95% CI, 5.5-491.5). Our results suggest that the risk of NETs may mostly explained by genetic factors. The increased risk of gastric NETs in women with both diabetes and a positive family history of cancer suggest that women may have a greater genetic susceptibility to NETs than men. '

Risk Factors Associated with Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Moreover, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry database of the National Cancer Institute (which reflects the standard of care for the average U.S. individual) shows that the age-adjusted incidence of rectal NETs has increased about 10-fold over the last 30 years, from 0.1/100,000 in 1973 to 1.0/100,000 in 2004 (4,9). Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with rectal NETs are asymptomatic and their tumors are discovered incidentally during a routine medical exam (10,11).…”

Neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowels are on the rise: Early aspects and management

“…The cause of this striking increase is unknown [5] ; it is often attributed to the fact that high-resolution imaging and endoscopy are being used more commonly in everyday clinical practice and immunohistochemistry more often in pathology. Other risk factors for small intestinal carcinoids include alcohol and smoking in one study [6] , but not in another [5] , female gender [5] and a positive family history of cancer [5] . Small intestinal carcinoids also occur with increased frequency in a few inherited syndromes [7][8][9] .…”

mTOR inhibition, a potential novel approach for bronchial carcinoids

“…Although BC can arise as a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1), vast majority is not associated with genetic cancer syndromes. Similar to other sporadic carcinoids, environmental risk factors have not been conclusively established (Hassan et al 2008).…”