ACTH-Secreting Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cecum: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Approximately 30% of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) present with secretory syndromes or develop one during the course of the disease. Cushing syndrome caused by a gastrointestinal tract NET is rare, with limited published information. We describe a patient with florid Cushing syndrome due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from a NET of colonic origin. A literature review was conducted to describe the spectrum of this clinical and pathologic entity as reported in the scientific literature.

Patient and methods: Next-generation sequencing and microsatellite instability testing was carried out on the tumor from our case. A preliminary PubMed search was conducted using the following terms under the publication type "Case Reports": "Cushing" AND "colon," "neuroendocrine" AND "colon" and "neuroendocrine AND Cushing AND "colon." A manual search was performed to review all references for inclusion and relevant clinical, biochemical and pathologic data was abstracted.

Results: Mutations in BRAF V600E and TP53 were detected in our case. We retrieved 18 previously reported cases of Cushing syndrome associated with a NET of colonic origin, none of which had next-generation sequencing performed. Median age at diagnosis was 54.5 years (range, 24-74 years), with equal gender distribution. ACTH was detected by immunohistochemistry in the primary tumor and/or metastatic lesion in 61.5%. Review of the reports suggested that ectopic ACTH secretion from a colonic tumor might be more common in mixed glandular and NETs, including mixed adenocarcinoma-neuroendocrine carcinoma. Among studies reporting outcomes, the unadjusted mortality rate was 77.7%, with median overall survival from presentation of 63 days (range, 17-380 days).

Conclusion: Cushing syndrome associated with ectopic ACTH from tumors of colonic origin is a rare phenomenon with poor outcomes and can be associated with pure NETs, adenocarcinomas, and mixed-phenotype tumors, including mixed adenocarcinoma-neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Keywords: Cushing syndrome; Neuroendocrine tumor; Next-generation sequencing; Survival outcomes.