Rectal neuroendocrine tumors in a Latin American population: Insights from a Peruvian national cancer institute

Cruz-Diaz W.E.; Leonardo A.; Saavedra A.; Paitan V.; Haro-Varas J.; Mantilla R.; Macetas J.; Veramendi E.; Pacheco C.; Calderón M.; Vidaurre T.; Castro-Oliden V. · World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology (2025) · DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i10.110203

Resumen

BACKGROUND Well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors (rNETs) represent approximately 28% of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, with a rising incidence over recent decades. However, data from Perú remains limited. AIM To assess overall survival (OS) in patients with rNETs and describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of the study population. METHODS This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with rNETs at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between 2009 and 2024. Qualitative variables were evaluated using the χ2 test through contingency tables. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between groups were assessed with the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate variables associated with OS. All statistical analyses were conducted using R software. RESULTS A total of 52 patients were included, with a mean age of 51.9 years (range: 27–74 years) and composed of 65.4% females. The most common stage at diagnosis was stage I (48.1%), followed by stage IV (36.5%). The median OS within the study population was 76 months. The 5-year OS for grade 1 tumors was 92.9% compared to 32.6% for grade 2 tumors (P = 0.00032). The median OS was 48 months for tumors exceeding 20 mm in size, whereas it was not reached for tumors measuring 20 mm or less (P = 0.0056). Similarly, the median OS for patients classified as lymph node involvement 1 was 46 months, while it was estimated at 112 months for those classified as lymph node involvement 0 (P = 0.0063). CONCLUSION rNETs exceeding 2 cm in size, classified as grade 2, or presenting with lymph node involvement 1 status were correlated with advanced disease stages and diminished survival outcomes. © The Author(s) 2025.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia