The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2021, Vol. 106, No. 1, e316–e327
doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa760
Clinical Research Article
ISSN Print 0021-972X ISSN Online 1945-7197
Printed in USA
e316 https://academic.oup.com/jcem
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved.
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Clinical Research Article
Quality of Life in Patients with Neuroendocrine
Neoplasms: The Role of Severity, Clinical
Heterogeneity, and Resilience
Cristiano Scandurra,
1
Roberta Modica,
2
Nelson Mauro Maldonato,
1
Pasquale Dolce,
3
Greta G. Dipietrangelo,
4
Roberta Centello,
4
Valentina Di Vito,
4
Filomena Bottiglieri,
2
Federica de Cicco,
2
Elisa Giannetta,
4
Andrea M. Isidori,
4
Andrea Lenzi,
4
Benedetta Muzii,
5
Antongiulio Faggiano,
4
and
Annamaria Colao
2
1
Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico
II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
2
Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico
II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
3
Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples,
Italy;
4
Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; and
5
Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
ORCiD numbers: 0000-0003-1790-3997 (C. Scandurra); 0000-0002-9037-5417 (A. M. Isidori).
Received: 31 August 2020; Editorial Decision: 11 October 2020; First Published Online: 21 October 2020; Corrected and
Typeset: 16 November 2020.
Abstract
Context: Although health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a fundamental outcome in
oncological clinical trials, its evaluation in the neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) research
field is still limited.
Objectives: This study assessed the role of clinical severity (ie, presence or absence of
metastasis and lines of therapies) and heterogeneity (ie, primary site, types of therapy,
biology, and surgery) of NEN in relation to HRQoL, as well as resilience as a moderator
between clinical severity and HRQoL.
Design: Cross-sectional multicentric study.
Setting: Italian university hospitals.
Patients: A total of 99 Italian patients (53 men and 46 women) with NEN and ranged in
age from 22–79 years old.
Main Outcome Measure: Severity and heterogeneity of NENs, HRQoL, and resilience.
Results: The presence of metastasis and a greater number of therapies affected the
global health and some physical symptoms. Resilience was associated with global
health, functional status, and some physical symptoms, and it moderated the impact
of metastases on constipation and of the multiple therapies on diarrhea and financial
problems. Patients with NEN in districts other than the gastroenteropancreatic system and
those in follow-up perceived fewer physical symptoms than their counterparts. Patients
with a sporadic NEN perceived their functional status, global health, and disease-related
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