title: Signaling mechanisms in neuroendocrine tumors as targets for therapy.
abstract: Although neuroendocrine tumors are rare, the more common types such as gastrointestinal and pancreatic carcinoids, medullary thyroid cancers, and small cell lung cancers have been studied in detail during the last few years. Data published thus far indicate that multiple signaling pathways are involved in these cancers. Recent focus has been on developing novel therapeutics by targeting specific signaling pathways. This article details several of the signaling mechanisms that have been discovered to play a role in the development and progression of neuroendocrine tumors. The therapeutic options developed to address the various pathways, including their specific mechanisms of actions, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Surgery Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarebczan
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy