Abstract
Abstract: Despite the rarity of the disease, there has been significant recent progress in the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Arterial phase imaging and somatostatin scintigraphy are important parts of the diagnostic and staging work-up of PNETs. The slow growth rate of PNETs can make observation a reasonable initial option in low volume asymptomatic disease or allow debulking surgery in selected patients with advanced disease. Somatostatin analogs, angiogenesis and mTOR inhibitors have proven benefit for PNET patients in randomized trials while retrospective and single-arm trials using chemotherapy or peptide receptor radiation therapy also appear promising. This review summarizes key aspects in the management of PNETs with emphasis on the most recent advances in systemic therapy.
Subject
Cancer Research,Endocrinology,Oncology,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism