Outcomes and survival in patients with advanced intestinal neuroendocrine tumours on home parenteral nutrition, an international multicentre retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background and aims: Only limited information is available on the use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) causing intestinal failure (IF). This study aims to report the outcomes of the explore the use of HPN in this patient cohort, in the largest case series to date.

Methods: A retrospective study in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands was performed, using the UK National British Artificial Nutrition Survey (BANS) and local databases in the Netherlands. Data regarding age, sex, NET grading, staging, treatment, HPN characteristics and survival outcomes were collected.

Results: Data were collected on 41 patients (n = 18 males, 44%) with a median age of 65. Most primary tumours were in the small bowel (n = 35, 85%). The NETs were Grade 1 (n = 16, 39%), Grade 2 (n = 7, 17%), Grade 3 (n = 1, 2%). In 28 patients (n = 68%) there was stage IV disease with metastases located in the peritoneum, mesentery and or liver. There were two indications for HPN; short bowel syndrome (n = 27, 66%) and inoperable malignant bowel obstruction (n = 14, 34%). The median period on HPN was 11 months (interquartile range 4-25 months). 11 patients were still alive and receiving HPN treatment after 2 years, and 6 patients after 3 years. Six patients (22%) with short bowel syndrome (SBS) could be weaned from HPN. There was a statistically significant improved survival for patients with short bowel syndrome (median 24 months) compared to inoperable malignant bowel obstruction (median 7 months). The catheter-related bloodstream infection rate was comparable to other HPN patient cohorts at 1.0 per 1000 catheter days.

Conclusion: This study shows that HPN can be used safely in patients with NET and IF to increase survival beyond that reasonably expected in the context of either short bowel syndrome or inoperable malignant bowel obstruction. Patients with short bowel syndrome are most likely to benefit. Further prospective studies are necessary to validate survival benefits and to demonstrate the effect of HPN on quality of life.

Keywords: Bowel obstruction; Neuroendocrine tumour; Parenteral nutrition; Short bowel syndrome; Survival.