Blood transcript analysis and metastatic recurrent small bowel carcinoid management

BACKGROUND: Detection of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) disease progression is a key issue in determining management. Currently, assessment is by imaging (MRI/CT and Octreoscan®) and plasma Chromogranin A (CgA) measurement. CASE PRESENTATION: We report use of a NET-specific multigene PCR-derived blood transcript signature (NET Index) to assess disease and correlated CgA and gene transcripts with MRI, CT, Octreoscan®, (11)C-5HTP-PET/CT and (68)Ga-DOTA-PET/CT in a patient with NET. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identify limitations in evaluating disease status by CgA and identify that a PCR-based test is more sensitive. Alteration in NET blood gene transcript levels prior to image-based tumor confirmation suggests this parameter may also have utility as an index of therapeutic efficacy.