title: Neurokinin A levels predict survival in patients with stage IV well differentiated small bowel neuroendocrine neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent European investigations have shown that persistently elevated (>50 pg/mL) plasma neurokinin A levels are associated with poor short-term survival in patients with midgut neuroendocrine neoplasms. We hypothesized that American patients with persistently elevated plasma neurokinin A levels (>50 pg/mL) will also have a poor short-term survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial plasma neurokinin A levels were collected from the charts of 180 patients with metastatic midgut neuroendocrine neoplasms. Patients were grouped according to their plasma neurokinin A values, and survival rates were calculated. Group 1 had plasma neurokinin A levels <50 pg/mL. Group 2 at one point had plasma neurokinin A levels >50 pg/mL, but are currently <50 pg/mL. Group 3 had plasma neurokinin A values consistently >50 pg/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 patients (n = 143) have not reached their median survival and have a 24-month survival of 93%. Thirteen of 14 (93%) group 2 patients are currently alive. Group 3 patients (n = 23) had a median survival of 20 months and a 24-month survival of 48%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with midgut neuroendocrine neoplasms who have serial plasma neurokinin A levels <50 pg/mL have an excellent short-term prognosis, while patients with plasma neurokinin A levels >50 pg/mL have a poor short-term prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Endocrinology, The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: J Philip
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boudreaux
authors.forename: Yi-Zarn
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lowell B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: Ann Porter
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Uhlhorn
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Paris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mamikunian
authors.forename: Gregg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mamikunian
authors.forename: Eugene A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Woltering
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015288:Neurokinin A