JNETS clinical practice guidelines for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up: a synopsis

1To standardize the diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) in Japan, the Japanese Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (JNETS) published the first Clinical Practice Guidelines for Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Japan in 2015. However, several subsequent developments regarding neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) necessitate the revision of clinical practice guidelines. The Guidelines Revision Committee was established at JNETS and began working on the revised guidelines in January 2018.

2After making updates to reflect the assessment committee members’ suggestions, public hearings were held at various academic societies starting April 2019, culminating in the publication of the second edition in September 2019. This revised edition encompasses diagnosis, pathology, surgical treatment, medical and multidisciplinary treatment, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)/von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease and includes 51 clinical questions and 19 columns. Topics under exploration are introduced in the “Columns” in the guideline based on expert consensus and evidence.

3As a new development in the treatment of NEN in Japan, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) was approved for insurance coverage in 2015 for the general diagnosis of NEN. In addition, the WHO classification for GEP-NENs was revised in 2017 and 2019, adding the new grade 3 (G3) well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which are characterized by well-differentiated tissue and a Ki-67 index exceeding 20%. Regarding surgical treatment, the first edition of the guidelines did not include explicit recommendations for nonfunctioning pancreatic NETs 1–2 cm in size. However, the revised edition specifies indications for surgery and recommends surgical approaches for well-differentiated nonfunctioning pancreatic NETs and specifically covers the management of small pancreatic NETs from a broad perspective. The revised guidelines also newly include indications for surgery for poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Regarding drug therapy, the molecular targeted drug everolimus is now covered by insurance for the treatment of well-differentiated NENs of the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the somatostatin analogue lanreotide is now covered by insurance for the treatment of well-differentiated GEP-NENs, substantially broadening treatment options. Moreover, while the first edition covered the diagnosis and treatment of NENs associated with MEN1, the revised edition also covers pancreatic NENs associated with VHL disease. In this article, we explain the changes described above in the sequential order of the 5 chapters of the guidelines.

4A GEP-NEN can be functioning or nonfunctioning. A Japanese epidemiological study reports that approximately 35% of pancreatic NETs are functioning, indicating that most pancreatic NETs are nonfunctioning. Meanwhile, approximately 1% of gastrointestinal NETs present with carcinoid syndrome, which differs considerably from the trends in Europe and the U.S.. This is likely because hindgut NENs are more prevalent in Japan, while midgut NENs, which have higher rates of carcinoid syndrome complication, are more prevalent in Europe and the U.S..

5Functional NENs are often diagnosed on the basis of endocrine symptoms due to hormonal hypersecretion. Insulinoma primarily presents with fasting hypoglycemia episodes and includes autonomic and neurologic symptoms. In cases in which hypoglycemic symptoms are unrecognized, symptoms such as seizures and dementia may be the earliest symptoms. Testing such as a 72-h fasting test and a mixed-meal test are recommended for definitive diagnosis, although there are recent reports of a 48-h fasting test combined with a glucagon test. Symptoms of gastrinoma include peptic ulcer and reflux esophagitis due to gastric hypersecretion and diarrhea due to pancreatic enzyme inactivation. Measurement of fasting serum gastrin level and gastric acid pH are required for definitive diagnosis, while a calcium infusion test is useful. Determination of MEN1 complication is also recommended. Symptoms and recommended tests for functional NENs including other relatively rare neoplasms are shown in Table 1.

6Nonfunctional pancreatic NENs have no specific symptoms and may present with jaundice, pancreatitis, bloating, abdominal pain, or intestinal obstruction symptoms associated with tumor growth. Advanced cases are often identified owing to the detection of distant metastases. Pathological diagnosis such as histology and cytology is recommended for differential diagnosis.

7To determine the localization of pancreatic NENs, it is recommended to consider and perform imaging such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), or SRS on a case-by-case basis. When performing histology, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is recommended. If microscopic insulinomas and gastrinomas cannot be localized by imaging, then selective arterial secretagogue injection (SASI) test is useful.

8Endoscopic findings of gastrointestinal NETs are round, submucosal, tumor-like protrusions, which when grown are accompanied by central depression and ulceration. Meanwhile, gastrointestinal NECs often appear as advanced cancer. The next recommended tests are endoscopic biopsy, EUS-FNA, and imaging to rule out distant metastases.

9When testing for metastases, US, CT, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), or SRS should be performed as appropriate. For liver metastases, the rate of detection by US can be improved by the use of contrast media, and multiphasic imaging using contrast media is recommended for CT. Contrast-enhanced MRI using Gd-DOTA yields higher detectability than CT or SRS. Although only some well-differentiated NETs are positive on FDG-PET, FDG-PET is useful for finding metastases and recurrent lesions of tumors with high proliferative potential, such as NECs; this method is inversely correlated with and complementary to SRS. Although the sensitivity of SRS is not necessarily high at 52%, it has a high specificity of 93%.

10The WHO Classification of Endocrine Organs (2017) and Digestive System (2019) categorizes NENs as well-differentiated NENs (termed “NETs”) or poorly differentiated NECs. NENs are graded according to morphology (i.e., well or poorly differentiated) and proliferative activities (i.e., mitotic rate measured as mitoses/2 mm2 or Ki-67 index by counting 500 tumor cells in hotspots).

11Well-differentiated NETs with proliferative activities < 3%, 3–20%, and > 20% are graded as G1, G2, and G3, respectively. In contrast, poorly differentiated NECs usually exhibit a higher Ki-67 index (i.e., > 20%) and lower expression of somatostatin receptor 2 (Table 2).

12It can be difficult to distinguish NET G3 from NECs. However, the pathology of NET G3 is essentially similar to that of NET G1 and G2 in that it forms well-demarcated, medullary, expansive, solid masses; grows relatively slowly; and has a compact organoid structure (e.g., funicular, alveolar, pseudoglandular, etc.) with neuroendocrine differentiation on histology (Figure S1). Cytologic atypia remains mild to moderate, and components corresponding to NET G1 and G2 coexist inside the tumor. On the other hand, NECs form poorly demarcated medullary masses and grow rapidly. Histologically, highly atypical cells exhibit large alveolar to sheet-like and diffuse proliferation with an ill-defined organoid structure. NET G3 and NECs both have Ki-67 indices > 20%, but NECs usually have a Ki-67 index > 50% often with extensive necrotic foci; meanwhile, NET G3 rarely has a Ki-67 index > 50% or necrotic foci. Somatostatin receptor expression is often positive in NET G3 but weakly positive or negative in NECs. As NECs exhibit p53 overexpression and deletion of Rb protein, which are characteristic of extremely malignant tumors, immunostaining for these markers is helpful for differentiating NET G3 and NECs.

13The WHO 2010 classification includes a category for mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) as combined adenocarcinoma and NET, although this did not include combinations such as acinar cell carcinoma and NET. In the new classification, such combinations are instead described as tumors involving both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine cells, and are classified as mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN).

14The surgical treatment of pancreatic NENs varies depending on the type of tumor. Pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy is generally recommended for nonfunctioning pancreatic NENs. Meanwhile, for incidentally discovered asymptomatic tumors < 10 mm with no evidence of metastasis/invasion (e.g., hepatic or lymphatic involvement, pancreatic duct stenosis, and biliary stricture) on imaging, follow-up every 6–12 months may be an option with the patient’s informed consent (Fig. 1). Surgery is generally recommended for insulinomas; when indicated, a minimally invasive approach is preferable. Pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy is recommended for malignant insulinomas. For gastrinomas, the high malignant potential is assumed, and resection with lymphadenectomy is recommended. Gastrinomas with MEN1 exhibit metachronous recurrences, so care must be taken to avoid excessive surgery. As rare functional pancreatic NENs other than insulinomas and gastrinomas (e.g., glucagonomas, VIPomas, somatostatinomas, GRFomas, PPomas, ACTHomas, and PTHomas) are highly malignant, pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy is recommended.

15When feasible, macroscopic curative resection is recommended for pancreatic NET G3 as for NET G1 and G2, whereas the indications for surgery are unclear for pancreatic NECs.

16Surgical treatment of gastrointestinal NENs varies by organ. More than 90% of esophageal NENs are NECs. Endoscopic resection or surgical resection is indicated for NETs according to stage, and drug therapy is indicated for nonresectable cases. Esophageal NECs are frequently accompanied by lymph node metastases (30%) and distant metastases (50%), requiring more careful decisions on surgery than that for esophageal cancers. For gastric NENs, the decision on surgical indications and selection of a surgical procedure according to Rindi’s classification is recommended. For small intestinal NENs, small intestine resection with lymphadenectomy is recommended when curative resection is feasible. Surgery is indicated for all appendiceal NENs, and the surgical approach should be selected by taking tumor localization, tumor size, and the presence of risk factors into account. Endoscopic resection is often indicated for colonic NENs, but colectomy with lymphadenectomy is recommended for the following: tumor size ≥ 1 cm or G2 or higher; muscularis propria invasion; suspected lymph node metastasis; or endoscopic resection specimens indicative of vascular invasion, muscularis propria invasion, positive surgical margins, or G2 or higher. Proctectomy with lymphadenectomy or rectal amputation is recommended for rectal NENs for the following: tumor size ≥ 1 cm or G2 or higher; muscularis propria invasion; suspected local lymph node involvement; or endoscopic resection specimens indicative of the need for additional treatment (Fig. 2).

17Treatment modalities for GEP-NENs differ for NETs and NECs, and treatment approaches differ for NETs originating in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract (Table 3). Resection is indicated for NETs when feasible; endoscopic treatment can also be considered for gastrointestinal NETs. Moreover, radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization are used for liver metastases. However, adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of NETs has not been established. For functional NETs with hormonal symptoms, somatostatin analogues such as octreotide and lanreotide are used to control symptoms. For tumor control, somatostatin analogues, molecular targeted drugs, and cytotoxic anticancer agents are indicated. Regarding somatostatin analogues, insurance covers lanreotide for pancreatic NETs as well as octreotide and lanreotide for gastrointestinal NETs. Regarding molecular targeted drugs, insurance covers everolimus and sunitinib for pancreatic NETs as well as everolimus for gastrointestinal NETs. Regarding cytotoxic anticancer agents, insurance covers streptozocin for both pancreatic and gastrointestinal NETs; in addition, temozolomide is considered promising in Europe and the U.S. Temozolomide combination therapy is one of the useful treatments, but it is not approved for insurance in Japan. Furthermore, radiation therapy may be used for palliative purposes for bone and brain metastases. Moreover, radionuclide-labeling peptide therapy (PRRT) is often used in Europe and the U.S. PRRT has recently been covered by insurance in Japan, but at present, it should be given priority to patients who are ineffective with other drugs after the second treatment and need immediate PRRT treatment. For that purpose, it is considered necessary to build a network with feasible facilities.

18While there is no established strategy for selecting appropriate treatment modalities, Japanese experts have proposed guidelines for NETs originating in the pancreas, although future validation is required.

19For NECs, resection is indicated when feasible, and adjuvant chemotherapy can be used to prevent recurrence after surgery. Resection is not recommended for liver metastases in NECs. In nonresectable cases, platinum-based chemotherapy is indicated, such as etoposide/cisplatin, irinotecan/cisplatin, and etoposide/carboplatin. However, no effective drug therapy has been established for cases refractory to these therapies.

20Although GEP-NENs are rare, there are effective local therapies such as resection, radiofrequency ablation, and transarterial chemoembolization. Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the usefulness of various drugs—many of which have been approved for use. In practice, the multidisciplinary treatment that takes advantage of these therapies is offered.

21Some pancreatic NENs develop in settings of hereditary neoplasms, specifically MEN1 and VHL disease. Epidemiological studies report the frequencies of these hereditary neoplasms among all pancreatic NENs, and whole-genomic sequencing revealed that approximately 6% and 1% of pancreatic NENs carry germline mutations in MEN1 and VHL, respectively, suggesting that the actual frequency is within this range.

22Pancreatic NENs in settings of hereditary neoplasms require different treatment approaches and surveillance compared to nonhereditary cases and also lead to preclinical diagnosis in family members. Therefore, it is important to appropriately screen patients with suspected hereditary neoplasia. In settings of MEN1, GEP-NEN is an important prognostic factor along with thymic NEN. Meanwhile, VHL disease rarely affects prognosis.

23Regarding diagnosis, MEN1 or VHL disease is suspected in cases of GEP-NENs that meet the criteria in Table 4, thus requiring further assessment including searching for associated pathologies and genetic testing.

24MEN1 or VHL disease may also be associated with multiple small pancreatic NENs, and EUS-FNA with CT or MRI is recommended for localization. If a functional tumor is suspected, other nonfunctioning tumors are also often present; therefore, a SASI test is recommended.

25The indications for surgery for GEP-NENs in settings of MEN1 or VHL disease are essentially the same as those for sporadic cases. However, because they involve multifocal and recurrent tumors, follow-up is generally recommended for nonfunctioning tumors < 2 cm in a setting of MEN1. Surgery is considered for tumors that are ≥ 2 cm or have a high growth rate. If surgery is indicated, a procedure that preserves as much pancreatic function as possible is recommended. In a setting of VHL disease, surgery is considered for tumors that are ≥ 2 cm and have a doubling time < 500 days.

26Regarding surveillance, the growth rate of GEP-NETs associated with MEN1 is slow (0.1–1.3 mm/year); tumors < 1 cm, in particular, show little growth. In patients with MEN1, annual follow-up including examination, imaging with CT or MRI, and biochemistry (i.e., fasting glucose, insulin, and gastrin) is recommended, keeping functional NENs in mind. In patients with VHL disease, follow-up with dynamic CT every 2–3 years is recommended for tumors that are < 2 cm and have a doubling time ≥ 500 days and every 6 months to 1 year for tumors meeting only 1 of the 2 conditions.

27The revised clinical practice guidelines encompass the revised WHO classification for new diagnostic modalities, pathological diagnosis, surgical and medical/multidisciplinary treatments for pancreatic NETs, and the management of pancreatic NETs in a setting of hereditary diseases by addressing issues encountered in daily clinical practice.

28Compared to countries other than Japan, the frequency of rectal NETs among gastrointestinal NETs is high in Japan, whereas the frequency of midgut NETs is high in Europe and the U.S. In addition, the frequency of MEN1 in cases of pancreatic NET is lower in Japan than that in Europe and the U.S. Accordingly, diagnostic and treatment approaches differ between patients from Japan and Europe or the U.S., requiring specific guidelines for patients in Japan. Thus, the revised guidelines contain specific strategies for GEP-NEN care in Japan, emphasizing clinical practicality.

29Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.