Chromogranin A as a predictor of progression, regression or stable disease in ileo-cecal (midgut) carcinoid tumors

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Introduction: A general characteristic for NETs is their expression of certain proteins, such as chromogranin A (CgA), which is released from the dense core vesicles of NE cells, occasionally together with cell specific hormones, such as gastrin and serotonin. Plasma CgA seems to be closely related to tumor burden of intestinal carcinoid tumors in humans.

Aim(s): We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of plasma CgA as a predictor for progression, regression or stable disease compared to changes in imaging in 100 patients with CgA positive intestinal carcinoid tumors.

Materials and methods: One hundred patients were evaluated by events. An event was recorded when a computerized tomography scan, ultrasonography or octreotide scintigraphy was followed by another corresponding image. More than a 50% change in tumor burden was defined as regression or progression. There were 384 events: 145 progression, 178 stable disease and 61 regression. Based on ROC curves, a cut-off value of 25% change was selected as the discriminatory value for testing the power of neutral, increase and decrease in plasma CgA, using a radioimmunoassay specific for the hCgA(340-348) sequence.

Conference: 7th Annual ENETSConcerence (2010)

Presenting Author:

Authors: Mynster T, Jensen K, Hilsted L, Knigge U,

Keywords: chromogranin-A, carcinoid tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, computered tomography, ultrasonography, octreotide scintigraphy, somatostatin receptors, radioimmunoassay,