Progress in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors

Curr Oncol Rep. 2009 May;11(3):193-9. doi: 10.1007/s11912-009-0028-0.

Abstract

Traditional treatments for patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors include surgical debulking, hepatic embolization, somatostatin analogues, and interferon-alpha. Patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors also may benefit from treatment with the alkylating agents streptozocin or temozolomide. In recent years, several promising new approaches have been investigated in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors. One such approach has been the use of radiopeptide therapy targeting somatostatin receptors. Additionally, agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and mammalian target of rapamycin have shown preliminary evidence of activity and are currently being evaluated in large randomized studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Everolimus
  • Humans
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / therapy*
  • Octreotide / therapeutic use
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / therapeutic use
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • Sunitinib

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Indoles
  • Pyrroles
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Bevacizumab
  • Everolimus
  • Octreotide
  • Sunitinib
  • Sirolimus