Neuroendocrine tumors in the Iran Cancer Institute: Predictive Factors of Patient Survival

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Neuroendocrine tumors have widespread and different clinical presentations and prognoses.This study was conducted to assess their survival time and prognostic factors in Iran. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>:In a retrospective cohort study, 189 patients diagnosed of having neuroendocrine carcinoma were chosen. Thetumor and clinical characteristics of the patients were modeled with a Cox proportional hazard approach.Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meyer curves. <br/><b>Results</b>: Crude median survival time was 30 months. Womensurvived longer than men (the median survival time for women was 40 and for men was 24 months). Age (<60 vs>60 years old with hazard ratio (HR) of 2.43, 95% CI 1.3-4.5), primary pathology report (carcinoid vs. otherswith HR 5.85 cm, 95% CI 2.4-14.3), tumor size cm (for 5-10, HR of 3.1, 95% CI 1.6 and for >10 HR of 8.2, 95%with 95% CI 3.1-21.9), and chemotherapy with single drug (taking vs. not taking with a HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.8)had significant effects on overall survival of patients. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Survival time in patients with neuroendocrinecarcinomas is related to demographics, clinical characteristics, tumor histology, and subtype specific treatment.