title: Molecular biology of neuroendocrine tumors: from pathways to biomarkers and targets.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with varied natural history and prognosis depending upon the organ of origin and grade of aggressiveness. The most widely used biomarker to determine disease burden and monitor response to treatment is chromogranin A (CgA), but it is far from being the optimal predictive and prognostic biomarker in NETs. Biological understanding and derived treatment options for NETs have changed markedly in recent years. Over the last decade, the genomic landscape of these tumors has been extensively investigated. This has resulted in the discovery of mutations and expression anomalies in genes and pathways such as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, DAXX/ATRX, and MEN1, which are promising predictive and prognostic biomarkers and future candidates for targeted therapies. Additionally, the study of tumor stroma and environment are one of the most promising fields for discovery of potential new targets and biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Center affiliated to the Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cancer (RTICC), Instituto Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Barcelona, Spain, jacapdevila@vhebron.net.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capdevila
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Carbonero
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pietras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astudillo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Casanovas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarpa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases