title: Molecular targeted therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: Although endocrine tumors are often slow growing, most can be life threatening and are considered resistant to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The recent emergence of molecularly targeted therapy in oncology has brought renewed interest in the development of novel agents for this rare group of diseases. Preliminary results from phase II studies have shown promising results for VEGF and mTOR inhibitors in carcinoid and islet cell carcinoma and RET inhibitors in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Large confirmatory studies are planned.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 426, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jyao@mdanderson.org <jyao@mdanderson.org>
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Paulo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoff
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008222:Lymphokines; C427493:PDGFD protein, human; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases