title: Radiotherapy in the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET): experience at three institutions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) presents a therapeutic challenge as many are unresectable and relatively resistant to systemic therapy with a high malignant potential. We share our experience using concurrent capecitabine or infusional 5-fluorouracil with radiation for patients with resected and locally advanced PNET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients (two females, four males) with PNET were treated with capecitabine or infusional 5-FU and concurrent radiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age was 52 years (range: 38 to 63 years), with ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0-1, grade 0-1 weight loss, and grade 0-1 pain. One patient underwent resection with negative margins, two with positive margins, and three had unresectable locally advanced disease. All six patients demonstrated partial radiographic response and sustained local control. The treatment was tolerable with only grade 2 hand-foot syndrome and grade 1 mucositis observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective studies to further investigate the role of chemoradiation in this setting are warranted.
authors: Tufts University School of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Director, GI Oncology Program 800 Washington Street, Box 245, Boston, MA 02111, USA. wsaif@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
authors: Muhammad Wasif
authors: MW
authors: Saif
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Ove
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Ng
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 5-FU; PNET; capecitabine; chemoradiation