Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40880168›Full record

ArticleEndocrine connections2025

Longitudinal analysis of serum alpha-fetoprotein in stable and progressive metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Jan Musiałkiewicz, Marek Ruchała, Paweł Komarnicki, Adam Maciejewski, Joanna Sienkiewicz, Phantira Sirisachadecha, Bartłomiej Budny, Paweł Gut

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Endocrine connections, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jan MusiałkiewiczDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0009-0002-2449-3324
Marek RuchałaDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.
Paweł KomarnickiDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-6548-0613
Adam MaciejewskiDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.
Joanna SienkiewiczDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0009-0005-0713-492X
Phantira SirisachadechaDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.
Bartłomiej BudnyDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.
Paweł GutDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells, most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Despite novel diagnostic techniques, identifying reliable biomarkers for NETs still remains a challenge. Objectives: Our study explores the diagnostic, monitoring and prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in pancreatic NETs. Materials and methods: We recruited 41 adult patients diagnosed with liver metastatic non-functioning pancreatic NETs. Serum AFP levels were assessed at three-month intervals over a span of four years. For comparative purposes, we analysed data in relation to sex, age, liver tumour burden (LTB; <10%, 10-25%), tumour grade based on the WHO 2022 classification (G1, G2), and treatment response on baseline as defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria (SD - stable disease, PD - progressive disease). Every patient underwent treatment with somatostatin analogues during the study period. Results: Elevated AFP concentrations showed a continuous upward trend across all participants and were significantly associated with indicators of more aggressive disease: greater liver tumour burden (10-25%, p < 0.001), higher tumour grade (G2, p < 0.001), and progression of disease (PD, p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences in AFP levels were observed in relation to age or sex. Conclusion: AFP consistently increases in patients with progressive pancreatic NETs compared to patients with stable disease on baseline. Potential utility of AFP measurements requires further follow-up studies, especially as a prognostic biomarker.

Indexed as

alpha-fetoproteinbiomarkerneuroendocrine tumourspancreatic neoplasms

Identifiers

PMID40880168
PMCPMC12424037

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.