New perspectives in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours

Anticancer Res. 2012 Oct;32(10):4193-200.

Abstract

The treatment of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) is mainly based on their biological characteristics of aggressiveness and functional features. Radical surgery is the sole effective approach. In other types of well-differentiated tumours, hormonal therapy is the treatment of choice, as well as chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for aggressive diseases. Recent advances in the field of targeted therapies have expanded options for NETs, particularly of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. The radiotherapy option in NETs is based on radiopharmaceuticals targeting receptors over-expressed by these diseases and acting on the cell metabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / radiotherapy
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / surgery
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / therapy*
  • Radiotherapy
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives
  • Somatostatin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Somatostatin