🧠 Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) Treatment | A Human-Centered Overview

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare cancers that arise from neuroendocrine cells — the hybrid communicators of the body that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system. These tumors can show up almost anywhere, but are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and pancreas.

🔍 Understanding the Challenge

NETs can be:

• Slow-growing (indolent) or fast and aggressive

• Functioning (secreting hormones that cause symptoms)

• Or non-functioning (quiet but still harmful)

Because they vary so much, treatment must be personalized and multi-faceted.

💊 Current Treatment Options

1. Surgery

🔪 First-line option when the tumor is localized. Surgeons aim to remove all or most of the tumor to improve outcomes.

2. Somatostatin Analogues (SSAs)

🧴 Medications like octreotide or lanreotide help slow tumor growth and control hormone-related symptoms like flushing or diarrhea.

3. Targeted Therapy

🎯 Drugs like everolimus or sunitinib block pathways that help tumors grow and multiply.

4. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)

☢️ A cutting-edge treatment where radioactive particles are attached to SSAs and delivered directly to tumor cells. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate is a key example.

5. Chemotherapy

💥 More common for aggressive or metastatic NETs (especially pancreatic NETs). Drugs like temozolomide or capecitabine may be used.

6. Immunotherapy (still in trials)

🛡️ Showing promise, but not yet standard for most NETs.

7. Liver-Directed Therapies

🩸 For tumors that spread to the liver: embolization, radiofrequency ablation, or liver resection may be considered.

🧬 Personalized Care is Key

Because NETs are so diverse, doctors use biomarkers, tumor grade, and receptor imaging (like Gallium-68 scans) to tailor each treatment plan.

📈 Market & Innovation Trends

• 📊 Increasing prevalence due to better diagnosis

• 💡 More clinical trials in PRRT and immunotherapy

• 🤝 Multidisciplinary care is becoming the gold standard

• 🧠 Strong advocacy and awareness driving research investment

❤️ Living with NETs

While some NETs are aggressive, many are slow-growing and manageable with the right care. Patients often work closely with:

• Oncologists

• Endocrinologists

• Nutritionists

• Palliative care teams