Ozturk B, Yasar HA. Letter to the Editor: Reconsidering the routine use of adjuvant somatostatin analogs in type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors after endoscopic treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(36): 120316 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.120316]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Bengi Ozturk, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Tıp Fakultesi Street, Ankara 06230, Türkiye. drbengiozturk@gmail.com
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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letter
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Ozturk B, Yasar HA. Letter to the Editor: Reconsidering the routine use of adjuvant somatostatin analogs in type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors after endoscopic treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(36): 120316 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.120316]
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2026; 32(36): 120316 Published online Sep 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.120316
Letter to the Editor: Reconsidering the routine use of adjuvant somatostatin analogs in type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors after endoscopic treatment
Bengi Ozturk, Hatime Arzu Yasar
Bengi Ozturk, Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06230, Türkiye
Hatime Arzu Yasar, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Author contributions: Ozturk B, Yasar HA contributed to the conception, drafting, and revision of the manuscript and approved the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Corresponding author: Bengi Ozturk, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Tıp Fakultesi Street, Ankara 06230, Türkiye. drbengiozturk@gmail.com
Received: February 25, 2026 Revised: April 26, 2026 Accepted: June 4, 2026 Published online: September 28, 2026 Processing time: 178 Days and 8.3 Hours
Abstract
Yang et al recently published an article in World Journal of Gastroenterology reported that adjuvant somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy following endoscopic treatment significantly reduced the risk of tumor progression in patients with type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors (G-NETs). While these findings suggest a potential therapeutic benefit, several methodological and clinical considerations require clarification before routine use of adjuvant SSA can be endorsed. Differences in follow-up times between progressive and non-progressive groups could lead to inaccurate conclusions on progression-free survival, warranting further confirmation, particularly for indolent tumors prone to late recurrence. Moreover, well-differentiated grade 1 type I G-NETs are characterized by low metastatic potential and excellent survival, and current guidelines primarily recommend SSA therapy for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic disease. Importantly, the study did not comprehensively report distant metastases or long-term survival outcomes, limiting the assessment of clinically meaningful benefit. Furthermore, the safety profile of prolonged SSA therapy warrants careful consideration in this favorable-risk population. These issues should be addressed before routine adjuvant SSA therapy is broadly adopted.
Core Tip: Type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors are usually indolent and are associated with low metastatic potential. Although adjuvant somatostatin analog therapy following endoscopic resection can reduce recurrence risk, its routine use in low-risk patients should be carefully evaluated considering the scarce survival data and potential treatment-related adverse effects.
