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Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pancreatic NETs), is an important cause of cancer-related death worldwide. No study has rigorously explored the impact of ethnicity on pancreatic NETs. We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between ethnicity and the survival of patients with pancreatic NETs. We used the SEER database to identify patients with pancreatic NETs from 2004 to 2013. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the impact of race on survival in pancreatic NETs patients. A total of 3850 patients were included: 3357 Non-Blacks, 493 Blacks. We stratified races as "Black" and "White/Other." Blacks were more likely to be diagnosed with later stages of tumors (P = 0.021). As for the treatment, the access to surgery seemed to be more limited in Blacks than non-Black patients (P = 0.012). Compared with non-Black patients, Black patients have worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00-1.37, P = 0.046) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors specific survival (PNSS) (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.48, P = 0.044). Multivariate Cox analysis identified that disease extension at the time of diagnosis and surgical status contributed to the ethnical survival disparity. Black patients whose stages at diagnosis were localized had significantly worse OS (HR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.18-3.71, P = 0.011) and PNSS (HR = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.62-8.82, P = 0.002). As for the patients who did not receive surgery, Blacks also have a worse OS (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-1.41, P = 0.045). The Black patients had both worse OS and PNSS compared to non-Black patients. The restricted utilization of surgery, and the advanced disease extension at the time of diagnosis are the possible contributors to poorer survival of Blacks with pancreatic NETs., (© 2017 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Objectives: Marital status's prognostic impact on pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) has not been rigorously studied. We aimed to explore the relationship between marital status and outcomes of PNET., Methods: We retrospectively investigated 2060 PNET cases between 2004 and 2010 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Variables were compared by Chi 2 test, t-test as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier methods and COX proportional hazard models were used to ascertain independent prognostic factors., Results: Married patients had better 5-year overall survival (OS) (53.37% vs. 42.27%, P<0.001) and 5-year pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor specific survival (PNSS) (67.76% vs. 59.82%, P=0.001) comparing with unmarried patients. Multivariate analysis revealed marital status is an independent prognostic factor, with married patients showing better OS (HR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.65-0.84; P<0.001) and PNSS (HR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.66-0.92; P=0.004). Subgroup analysis suggested marital status plays a more important role in the PNET patients with distant stage rather than regional or localized disease., Conclusions: Marital status is an independent prognostic factor for survival in PNET patients. Poor prognosis in unmarried patients may be associated with a delayed diagnosis with advanced tumor stage, psychosocial and socioeconomic factors. Further studies are needed., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are relatively rare pancreatic neoplasms over the world. Investigations about molecular biology of PNETs are insufficient for nowadays. We aimed to explore the expression of messenger RNA and regulatory processes underlying pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from different views. The expression profile of GSE73338 were downloaded, including samples with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. First, the Limma package was utilized to distinguish the differentially expressed messenger RNA. Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed to explore the functions and pathways of target genes. In addition, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network. NEK2, UBE2C, TOP2A and PPP1R1A were revealed with continuous genomic alterations in higher tumor stage. 91 up-regulated and 36 down-regulated genes were identified to be differentially expressed in malignant PNETs. Locomotory behavior was significantly enriched for biological processes of metastasis PNETs. GCGR and GNAS were identified as the hub of proteins in the protein-protein interaction sub-network of malignant PNETs. We showed the gene expression differences in PNETs according to different clinicopathological aspects. NEK2, UBE2C, TOP2A are positively associated with high tumor grade, and PPP1R1A negatively. GCGR and GNAS are regarded as the hub of the PPI sub-network. CXCR4 may affect the progression of PNETs via the CXCR4-CXCL12-CXCR7 chemokine receptor axis. However, more studies are required., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)