The risk and prognostic factors for G1 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A retrospective analysis of the SEER database

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) for which little is known about their clinical features, treatment options, and survival prognosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors affecting the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with grade 1 pNETs (G1 pNETs) and to provide a new theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of individuals with G1 pNETs registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) database was performed. Risk factors affecting OS and CSS were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards model, and Fine-Gray competing-risk model. RESULTS: A total of 751 patients were included, most of whom were white (77.2%) women (53.9%) under the age of 60 years (54.9%), of whom 66 died of pNETs (8.78%) and 34 died of other causes (4.52%). Patients who were older than 60 years at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.866, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.242-2.805) had worse OS. And stage in the regional extent (HR = 1.777, 95% CI: 1.006-3.137) or distance extent (HR = 4.540, 95% CI: 2.439-8.453) had worse OS. Patients who delayed treatment after diagnosis had shorter CSS (delayed treatment < 1 month: HR = 1.933, 95% CI: 0.863-4.333; delayed treatment ≥ 1 month: HR = 2.208; 95% CI:1.047-4.654). Patients with lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.989, 95% CI: 1.137-3.479) or distant metastasis (HR = 5.625, 95% CI: 1.892-16.726) had worse CSS. Acceptance of surgery can significantly improve the patient’s OS and CSS. OS (partial pancreatectomy [PP]: HR = 0.350, 95% CI: 0.182-0.672; pancreatectomy and duodenectomy [PD]: HR = 0.426, 95% CI: 0.222-0.815; total pancreatectomy [TP]: HR = 0.495, 95% CI: 0.193-1.267). CSS(PP: HR = 0.148, 95% CI: 0.0054-0.401; PD: HR = 0.332, 95% CI: 0.150-0.730; TP: HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.254-1.872). CONCLUSION: Age and stage were identified as independent risk factors for OS. Delayed treatment, N stage and M stage were independent risk factors for CSS. Only surgery was identified as independent protective factors for OS and CSS.