Efficacy of FOLFOX chemotherapy in metastatic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract

Background/Aim: FOLFOX (5-Fluorouracile and oxaliplatin) exhibits promising activity in advanced welldifferentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcome of metastatic enteropancreatic NETs patients treated with FOLFOX. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively identified patients treated with FOLFOX for NETs of enteropancreatic or unknown origin among those referred to our Regional Multidisciplinary Tumor Board. Results: Among 48 patients, most often pancreatic NETs (n=33, 68.8%), the median Ki67 index was 10%. The median number cycle of FOLFOX was 6 and median follow-up was 34.8 months. Disease control rate (DCR) was 83.3%. Median PFS and OS were 12.6 and 29.4 months respectively. Median chemotherapy break was 14.1 months. No significant difference was observed between PFS and the following criteria: Ki67 index, primary tumor site, alkaline phosphatase levels, primary tumor surgery and 18F-FDG PET positivity. Conclusion: FOLFOX exhibits a high DCR and a short duration of treatment with a relative long chemotherapy break in patients with metastatic enteropancreatic NETs.