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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Establishment and Characterization of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumor Spheroids
09:43

Establishment and Characterization of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumor Spheroids

Published on: October 14, 2019

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Relevance of angiogenesis in neuroendocrine tumors

Alexandre Teulé1, Oriol Casanovas

  • 1Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.

Targeted Oncology
|May 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) show resistance to antiangiogenic therapies like sunitinib. Future research will explore strategies to overcome this resistance for improved NET treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Translational Medicine

Background:

  • Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) exhibit unique vascularization patterns, including hypoxia-driven angiogenesis in high-grade NETs.
  • Traditional cytotoxic drugs have limited efficacy against NETs, necessitating targeted therapeutic strategies.
  • Antiangiogenic agents, such as sunitinib, target vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) pathways, showing activity in pancreatic NETs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapies in neuroendocrine tumors.
  • To highlight the challenge of antiangiogenic resistance in NETs.
  • To discuss potential strategies for overcoming resistance to antiangiogenic therapies in NETs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies and clinical trials on antiangiogenic therapies in NETs.
  • Analysis of the biological features of NETs, including vascularization and angiogenesis.
  • Examination of the mechanisms of action and resistance to agents like sunitinib.

Main Results:

  • Sunitinib demonstrates activity in pancreatic NET patients by targeting VEGFR and PDGFR.
  • Resistance to antiangiogenic therapies is a significant challenge observed in NET models and clinical settings.
  • NETs are characterized by extensive vascularization and hypoxia-dependent angiogenesis, making them susceptible to antiangiogenic agents.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming antiangiogenic resistance is critical for advancing NET treatment.
  • Further preclinical and clinical investigations are required to develop effective strategies against NET resistance.
  • Targeting angiogenesis remains a promising therapeutic avenue for neuroendocrine tumors, pending resistance resolution.

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