Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are fairly rare neoplasms that present many clinical challenges. They secrete peptides and neuroamines that cause distinct clinical syndromes, including carcinoid syndrome. However, many are clinically silent until late presentation with mass effects. Investigation and management should be highly individualised for a patient, taking into consideration the likely natural history of the tumour and general health of the patient. Management strategies include surgery for cure (which is achieved rarely) or for cytoreduction, radiological intervention (by chemoembolisation and radiofrequency ablation), chemotherapy, and somatostatin analogues to control symptoms that result from release of peptides and neuroamines. New biological agents and somatostatin-tagged radionuclides are under investigation. The complexity, heterogeneity, and rarity of GEP NETs have contributed to a paucity of relevant randomised trials and little or no survival increase over the past 30 years. To improve outcome from GEP NETs, a better understanding of their biology is needed, with emphasis on molecular genetics and disease modeling. More-reliable serum markers, better tumour localisation and identification of small lesions, and histological grading systems and classifications with prognostic application are needed. Comparison between treatments is currently very difficult. Progress is unlikely to occur without development of centers of excellence, with dedicated combined clinical teams to coordinate multicentre studies, maintain clinical and tissue databases, and refine molecularly targeted therapeutics.
Modlin
Irvin M
IM
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8062, USA. imodlin@optonline.net
Oberg
Kjell
K
Chung
Daniel C
DC
Jensen
Robert T
RT
de Herder
Wouter W
WW
Thakker
Rajesh V
RV
Caplin
Martyn
M
Delle Fave
Gianfranco
G
Kaltsas
Greg A
GA
Krenning
Eric P
EP
Moss
Steven F
SF
Nilsson
Ola
O
Rindi
Guido
G
Salazar
Ramon
R
Ruszniewski
Philippe
P
Sundin
Anders
A
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013004:Somatostatin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases