Neoadjuvant Therapy for Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Recent Progresses and Future Approaches

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Jul 26:12:651438. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.651438. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors, their treatment being challenging and requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Though the only curative treatment is surgery, up to 50% of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease. In the last years, neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy has become part of the standard of care in the treatment of different cancer types. However, evidence of its efficacy and safety in NEN patients has not yet been confirmed in the literature. The aim of the present review is to perform an extensive review of the scientific evidence for neoadjuvant therapy in patients with gastroenteropancreatic and thoracic NENs.

Keywords: capecitabine; chemotherapy; everolimus; neuroendocrine tumors; peptide receptor radionuclide therapy; somatostatin (analogs and derivatives); temozolomide.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Capecitabine / therapeutic use
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Everolimus / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / mortality
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Quality of Life
  • Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Somatostatin / therapeutic use*
  • Temozolomide / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Radioisotopes
  • Somatostatin
  • Capecitabine
  • Everolimus
  • Temozolomide