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Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: targeting the molecular basis of disease
1aTufts Medical Center bTufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasia. Presentation of these tumors can vary widely. Current treatment modalities range from potentially curative surgical interventions in localized disease to the use of varied hormonal analogues, cytotoxic agents and targeted therapy for the management of locally advanced and metastatic disease. With such a wide variety of therapeutic modalities, clinicians are faced with the task of building an effective and comprehensive treatment strategy for their patients.
Recent Findings:
Targeted therapy for pNET is limited to sunitinib and everolimus. There have been a number of important studies assessing the efficacy of other targeted agents, in addition to the conjugation of these agents in the management of advanced pNET. This review will stand to highlight currently available targeted therapies for the treatment of advanced pNET.
Summary:
The use of targeted agents in the management of advanced pNET has significant potential to change the current standard of care. In addition to the use of long-acting somatostatin analogues, targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways can be well tolerated and may lead to long periods of disease control in a wide variety of neuroendocrine tumors involving the pancreas.
Insights
Targeted therapies, including sunitinib and everolimus, show promise for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). Targeting key pathways offers potential for long-term disease control in pNET management.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare, heterogeneous neoplasms with diverse clinical presentations.
- Current treatments for advanced pNETs include hormonal analogues, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies, necessitating comprehensive treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight currently available targeted therapies for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).
- To discuss the potential of targeted agents in altering the standard of care for pNET management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies assessing targeted agents for advanced pNET.
- Focus on sunitinib, everolimus, and other emerging targeted therapies.
Main Results:
- Sunitinib and everolimus are currently approved targeted therapies for pNET.
- Ongoing research explores other targeted agents and their combinations for advanced pNET.
- Targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways shows efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Targeted agents hold significant potential to evolve the standard of care for advanced pNET.
- Targeted therapies, alongside somatostatin analogues, can be well-tolerated.
- These approaches may achieve prolonged disease control in various pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
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