Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a sarcoma subtype that gathers some singular characteristics, making it a difficult challenge to face in clinical practice. Despite its excellent survival prognosis, these tumors may be unpredictable, ranging from an asymptomatic indolent course to persistent, local, and extended recurrences that significantly impair quality of life. Although surgery was initially considered the first elective treatment, collected published data during the past few years are now pointing to the "wait and see" approach as a reasonable initial strategy because many patients can live a long life with the disease without having symptoms. When symptoms appear or there is a risk of functional impairment, a wide spectrum of therapies (local and systemic) can be useful in improving symptoms and controlling the disease. Because of the low incidence of desmoid-type fibromatosis, there is scarce scientific evidence supporting any specific treatment. Nonetheless, if volumetric responses are needed, chemotherapy may be a reasonable early option. However, if long-term control of disease is desirable, hormonal therapy, NSAIDs, and TKIs are the likely treatments of choice. Recent new findings in the biologic development of these tumors, such as the role of Wnt/β-catenin dependent pathway, have shown that the prognostic information provided by specific CTNNB1 gene mutations and other genetic profiles can lead to better methods of selecting patients as candidates for other approaches. Based on recent research, the Notch pathway inhibition in DF is one of the most promising potential targets to explore. As an orphan disease, it is mandatory that as many patients as possible be included in clinical trials.
PURPOSESomatostatin analogs (SSAs) are recommended for the first-line treatment of most patients with well-differentiated, gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors; however, benefit from treatment is heterogeneous. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a progression-free survival (PFS) prediction model in SSA-treated patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe extracted data from the Spanish Group of Neuroendocrine and Endocrine Tumors Registry (R-GETNE). Patient eligibility criteria included GEP primary, Ki-67 of 20% or less, and first-line SSA monotherapy for advanced disease. An accelerated failure time model was developed to predict PFS, which was represented as a nomogram and an online calculator. The nomogram was externally validated in an independent series of consecutive eligible patients (The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom).RESULTSWe recruited 535 patients (R-GETNE, n = 438; Manchester, n = 97). Median PFS and overall survival in the derivation cohort were 28.7 (95% CI, 23.8 to 31.1) and 85.9 months (95% CI, 71.5 to 96.7 months), respectively. Nine covariates significantly associated with PFS were primary tumor location, Ki-67 percentage, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, alkaline phosphatase, extent of liver involvement, presence of bone and peritoneal metastases, documented progression status, and the presence of symptoms when initiating SSA. The GETNE-TRASGU (Treated With Analog of Somatostatin in Gastroenteropancreatic and Unknown Primary NETs) model demonstrated suitable calibration, as well as fair discrimination ability with a C-index value of 0.714 (95% CI, 0.680 to 0.747) and 0.732 (95% CI, 0.658 to 0.806) in the derivation and validation series, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe GETNE-TRASGU evidence-based prognostic tool stratifies patients with GEP neuroendocrine tumors receiving SSA treatment according to their estimated PFS. This nomogram may be useful when stratifying patients with neuroendocrine tumors in future trials. Furthermore, it could be a valuable tool for making treatment decisions in daily clinical practice.
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