2 research outputs found
Colorectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Areas of Unmet Need
The subject of colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), subdivided
into well-differentiated NENs, termed neuroendocrine tumours (NETs;
grade (G) 1 and 2), and poorly differentiated NENs, termed
neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs; G3) according to the 2010 World Health
Organisation (WHO) classification, has arguably not had as much
attention or study as NENs occurring in other sites. Colorectal NETs and
NECs are however easier to study than many others since they are usually
not difficult to remove and are increasingly detected because of
intensified colorectal cancer screening and surveillance programmes.
Colorectal NETs and NECs show site-specific heterogeneity with variable
behaviour and different therapeutic options; these various aspects
provide unique challenges. Because of bowel cancer screening programmes,
colorectal NENs, like conventional adenocarcinomas, may be diagnosed at
a stage that is associated with improved survival. In this article we
intend to describe and define areas of unmet needs relating to the
epidemiology, classification, pathology, diagnosis and therapy of
colorectal NETs (including NETs G3), colorectal NECs, and finally, mixed
adeno-neuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs) by reviewing and discussing the
relevant literature