AUTHOR=Gagliardi Irene , Tarquini Mario , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria , Giannetta Elisa , Borges de Souza Patricia , Gafà Roberta , Carnevale Aldo , Franceschetti Paola , Zatelli Maria Chiara TITLE=NEP-Score Thresholds Predict Survival of Patients With Bronchial Carcinoids JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.621557 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2020.621557 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=

Survival prognostic markers are extremely needed to better define therapeutic strategies in patients with bronchial carcinoids (BC). We aim to verify the applicability of the NEP-Score in a homogeneous BC cohort and identify a derivative prognostic marker, the NEP-Score at diagnosis (NEP-D) that does not consider new metastases during follow-up. Sixty-four patients (38 females, and 26 males, mean age at diagnosis 58.9 ± 1.7 years) with BC were retrospectively evaluated. NEP-Score was calculated at the end of follow-up (NEP-T). A derivative score, the NEP-Score at diagnosis (NEP-D) that does not consider new metastases during follow-up, was then assessed. Patients were subdivided according to their living status at the end of follow-up. A NEP-Score threshold was investigated to predict survival. Mean NEP-T and mean NEP-D were significantly lower in live patients at end of follow-up. A NEP-T cut-off >138 significantly predicts survival. Atypical BC relapsed more frequently than Typical BC. Male gender and previous malignancy were negative prognostic factors for survival. We confirmed NEP-Score applicability in BC and NEP-D utility, being the latter a simple, quick, and cheap prognostic score that can help clinicians in decision making. The identified NEP-D threshold can predict NEN aggressiveness and may be used to define the best personalized therapeutic strategy. In this context, a validation study is needed.