Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common in neuroendocrine tumor (NET), yet controversy exists over whether serotonin-mediated antidepressants (SAs) are safe in this population. We sought to address this knowledge gap.

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to identify NET patients who were prescribed SA.

We identified 15 articles, reporting on 161 unique patients, 72 with carcinoid syndrome (CS) and 89 without. There was substantial agreement between reviewers at the full-text stage (κ = 0.69). Three of the articles, all with low risk of bias, accounted for most of the cases (149/161; 93%). Among the 72 NET patients with CS prior to antidepressant usage, CS was exacerbated in 6 cases (8%), only 3 (4%) of whom chose to discontinue the antidepressant. The remaining 89 patients had no prior CS symptoms, and none developed CS following antidepressant usage. Overall, no instances of carcinoid crisis or death were reported.

We found no evidence for serious adverse outcomes related to SA usage in NET patients. Previous authors have recommended avoiding antidepressants in NET, but our findings do not support those recommendations. Oncologists should nonetheless monitor for symptom exacerbation when prescribing SA to patients with NET.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, slow-growing malignant tumors. So far, there are no data on patient preferences regarding its therapy. This empirical study aimed to elicit patient preferences in the drug treatment of NET.

Based on qualitative patient interviews and an analytic hierarchy process, six patient-relevant attributes were analyzed and weighted using a discrete-choice experiment. Patients were recruited with the help of a NET support group. An experimental 3*3 + 6*3 –MNL design was created using NGene. The design consisted of eighty-four choices, divided into seven blocks. Participants were randomly assigned to these blocks. The analysis included random parameter logit and latent class models.

A total of 275 participants (51.6 percent female; mean age, 58.4 years) were included. The preference analysis within the random parameter logit model, taking into account the 95 percent confidence interval, showed predominance for the attribute “overall survival.” The attributes “response to treatment” and “stabilization of tumor growth” followed. The side effects “nausea/vomiting” and “diarrhea” were considered of relatively equal importance. Latent class analysis of possible subgroup differences revealed three preference patterns.

Preferences can influence therapeutic decisions. Preference analyses indicated that “overall survival” had the strongest influence, with participants clearly weighing outcome attributes higher than side effect attributes. In conclusion, mono-criterial decisions would not fully reflect patient perspectives.

This review aimed to critically analyse data pertaining to the clinical presentation and treatment of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the larynx.

A PubMed search was performed using the term ‘neuroendocrine carcinoma’. English-language articles on neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx were reviewed in detail.

While many historical classifications have been proposed, in contemporary practice these tumours are sub-classified into four subtypes: carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. These tumours exhibit a wide range of biological behaviour, ranging from the extremely aggressive nature of small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, which usually have a fatal prognosis, to the less aggressive course of carcinoid tumours. In small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, a combination of irradiation and chemotherapy is indicated, while carcinoid and atypical carcinoid tumour management entails conservation surgery.

Small cell carcinoma has the worst prognosis of all laryngeal neoplasms. In order to further characterise this tumour, with a view to development of new therapeutic approaches, we report the results of KIT gene and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression analysis, for two extremely rare cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Case reports, including immunohistochemical study, and review of the literature.

We present two patients with laryngeal small cell carcinoma, who died from tumour metastasis to the lungs and brain despite aggressive treatment. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reactions for KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor α gene expression in patient one, and for KIT gene expression in patient two. Molecular genetic analysis, using polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing, identified no mutations of the KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α genes.

Although further investigation is necessary regarding KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression in laryngeal small cell carcinoma, the reported results suggest that these genes may be significant in the development of molecular targeted therapy.