Understanding the Management and Treatment of Well-Differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Clinician’s Guide to a Complex Illness

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 720-728
Author(s):  
Daneng Li ◽  
Adam Rock ◽  
Jonathan Kessler ◽  
Richard Ballena ◽  
Shadman Hyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Arterial Embolization ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Neuroendocrine Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Systemic Treatments ◽  
Individualized Approach ◽  
Diagnostic Modalities

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare neoplasms that arise in the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. Although their clinical presentations differ depending on cell type, most are indolent, whereas others cause noteworthy hormone-related symptoms. The increasing incidence of PanNETs, attributed to improved diagnostic modalities, demonstrates advances in current standard of care. However, given the heterogeneity of these tumors, treatment decisions can become complex and an individualized approach is often required. Surgical intervention has remained the mainstay for localized tumors, whereas systemic therapies remain viable options for patients with unresectable or metastatic disease. Liver-directed therapies such as radiofrequency ablation and hepatic arterial embolization have also become available adjunct therapies for patients with liver-predominant metastases. Despite the increase in the armamentarium of treatment options for patients with PanNETs, data regarding the ideal sequence of treatment, especially systemic treatments, are currently lacking. Ongoing clinical trials are aimed at addressing this knowledge gap in addition to developing the next generation of novel therapeutics.

scholarly journals Co-Clinical Trials: An Innovative Drug Development Platform for Cholangiocarcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Brinda Balasubramanian ◽  
Simran Venkatraman ◽  
Kyaw Zwar Myint ◽  
Tavan Janvilisri ◽  
Kanokpan Wongprasert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Innovative Drug ◽  
Curative Intent

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a group of malignancies that originate from the biliary tract, is associated with a high mortality rate and a concerning increase in worldwide incidence. In Thailand, where the incidence of CCA is the highest, the socioeconomic burden is severe. Yet, treatment options are limited, with surgical resection being the only form of treatment with curative intent. The current standard-of-care remains adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy which is ineffective in most patients. The overall survival rate is dismal, even after surgical resection and the tumor heterogeneity further complicates treatment. Together, this makes CCA a significant burden in Southeast Asia. For effective management of CCA, treatment must be tailored to each patient, individually, for which an assortment of targeted therapies must be available. Despite the increasing numbers of clinical studies in CCA, targeted therapy drugs rarely get approved for clinical use. In this review, we discuss the shortcomings of the conventional clinical trial process and propose the implementation of a novel concept, co-clinical trials to expedite drug development for CCA patients. In co-clinical trials, the preclinical studies and clinical trials are conducted simultaneously, thus enabling real-time data integration to accurately stratify and customize treatment for patients, individually. Hence, co-clinical trials are expected to improve the outcomes of clinical trials and consequently, encourage the approval of targeted therapy drugs. The increased availability of targeted therapy drugs for treatment is expected to facilitate the application of precision medicine in CCA.

Reversal of Renal Insufficiency in an Aging Cat: A 5-year Multi-Crossover Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Dennis ◽  
John Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Renal Insufficiency ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Invasive Treatment ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Electro Magnetic

Renal failure is a leading cause of suffering and death in domestic cats, with approximately 1 in 3 cats affected.  Current standard-of-care treatment usually involves palliative care, diets restricted in protein and phosphorus, plenty of fluids, and sometimes vitamin D and Omega-3.  But even with early detection, which is difficult, treatment options are limited and often are not very effective.  Dietary restrictions and palliative care are often the best that can be offered, but the creatinine levels tend to inexorably creep upward toward eventual kidney failure and death.  We report the effectiveness of the use of a low-frequency, low-intensity, non-invasive treatment using Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Fields, specifically tuned to inductively generate micro-electric currents in deep tissues (ICES®-PEMF).  This report chronicles the return to normal and then reversion to renal insufficiency in a single cat, when ICES®-PEMF was applied, then withheld, then applied again, over three cycles of application and non-application, over a 5-year period. A return to normal creatinine levels, with a subsequent return to renal insufficiency as indicated by loss of control of creatinine, correlated precisely with the application and non-application of ICES®-PEMF.  The pattern observed during each cycle was as follows:  when applied 2 to 3 times weekly for 20-60 minutes each treatment, creatinine levels declined to normal range within 2-3 months.  During periods when treatment was discontinued, creatinine levels began to climb to high levels again.  We suggest the further study and potential use of ICES®-PEMF as an effective, inexpensive, safe, non-invasive treatment for feline kidney disease.

scholarly journals Targeting Angiogenesis in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Resistance Mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 4949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pozas ◽  
San Román ◽  
Alonso-Gordoa ◽  
Pozas ◽  
Caracuel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Somatostatin Analogues ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Optimal Sequence

Despite being infrequent tumors, the incidence and prevalence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (P-NETs) has been rising over the past few decades. In recent years, rigorous phase III clinical trials have been conducted, allowing the approval of several drugs that have become the standard of care in these patients. Although various treatments are used in clinical practice, including somatostatin analogues (SSAs), biological therapies like sunitinib or everolimus, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) or even chemotherapy, a consensus regarding the optimal sequence of treatment has not yet been reached. Notwithstanding, sunitinib is largely used in these patients after the promising results shown in SUN111 phase III clinical trial. However, both prompt progression as well as tumor recurrence after initial response have been reported, suggesting the existence of primary and acquired resistances to this antiangiogenic drug. In this review, we aim to summarize the most relevant mechanisms of angiogenesis resistance that are key contributors of tumor progression and dissemination. Furthermore, several targeted molecules acting selectively against these pathways have shown promising results in preclinical models, and preliminary results from ongoing clinical trials are awaited.

scholarly journals Towards Personalization in the Curative Treatment of Gastric Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid E. Slagter ◽  
Marieke A. Vollebergh ◽  
Edwin P. M. Jansen ◽  
Johanna W. van Sandick ◽  
Annemieke Cats ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Perioperative Chemotherapy ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Common Cancer ◽  
Resectable Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and has a high mortality rate. In the last decades, treatment strategy has shifted from an exclusive surgical approach to a multidisciplinary strategy. Treatment options for patients with resectable gastric cancer as recommended by different worldwide guidelines, include perioperative chemotherapy, pre- or postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy. Although gastric cancer is a heterogeneous disease with respect to patient-, tumor-, and molecular characteristics, the current standard of care is still according to a one-size-fits-all approach. In this review, we discuss the background of the different treatment strategies in resectable gastric cancer including the current standard, the specific role of radiotherapy, and describe the current areas of research and potential strategies for personalization of therapy.

scholarly journals Treatment Options for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Akirov ◽  
Vincent Larouche ◽  
Sameerah Alshehri ◽  
Sylvia L. Asa ◽  
Shereen Ezzat
Keyword(s):  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Distant Metastases ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Tumor Burden ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Genetic Syndromes ◽  
Stratification System ◽  
Specific Symptoms

The management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) involves classification into non-functional or functional PanNET, and as localized or metastatic PanNET. In addition, while most PanNETs are sporadic, these endocrine neoplasms can also be manifestations of genetic syndromes. All these factors may assist in forming a risk stratification system permitting a tailored management approach. Most PanNETs are classified as non-functional because they are not associated with clinical sequelae of hormone excess. They are characterized by non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain or weight loss, resulting from mass effect related to the pancreatic tumor or secondary to distant metastases. Accurate staging of the disease is essential for determining the appropriate approach to therapy. As cure is only potentially possible with surgical resection of the tumor, it is recommended to remove all localized and limited metastatic disease. However, many patients present with metastatic and/or advanced local disease. In such instances, the goal of therapy is to control tumor growth and/or decrease tumor burden, lengthen survival, and palliate local symptoms and those of hormone excess. This typically requires a multimodal approach, including surgery, liver-directed treatment, and systemic medical therapy.

scholarly journals Ca2+ Channel Toolkit in Neuroendocrine Tumors

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Alessandra Fiorio Pla ◽  
Dimitra Gkika
Keyword(s):  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential Channels ◽  
The Body ◽  
Neuroendocrine Cells ◽  
Neoplastic Progression ◽  
Ca2 Channels

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) constitute a heterogeneous group of malignancies with various clinical presentations and growth rates but a common origin in neuroendocrine cells located all over the body. NET are a relatively low-frequency disease mostly represented by gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) and bronchopulmonary tumors (pNET); on the other hand, an increasing frequency and prevalence have been associated with NET. Despite great efforts in recent years, the management of NET is still a critical unmet need due to the lack of knowledge of the biology of the disease, the lack of adequate biomarkers, late presentation, the relative insensitivity of imaging modalities, and a paucity of predictably effective treatment options. In this context Ca2+ signals, being pivotal molecular devices in sensing and integrating signals from the microenvironment, are emerging to be particularly relevant in cancer, where they mediate interactions between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment to drive different aspects of neoplastic progression (e.g., cell proliferation and survival, cell invasiveness, and proangiogenetic programs). Indeed, ion channels represent good potential pharmacological targets due to their location on the plasma membrane, where they can be easily accessed by drugs. The present review aims to provide a critical and up-to-date overview of NET development integrating Ca2+ signal involvement. In this perspective, we first give an introduction to NET and Ca2+ channels and then describe the different families of Ca2+ channels implicated in NET, i.e., ionotropic receptors, voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, and transient receptor potential channels, as well as intracellular Ca2+ channels and their signaling molecules.

A decision-analytic model of idelalisib in relapsed or refractory patients with follicular lymphoma in the United States.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 30-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Smith ◽  
Alexander Xenakis ◽  
Rachel Beckerman ◽  
Jagpreet Chhatwal ◽  
Stephanie A. Gregory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Follicular Lymphoma ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Decision Analytic Model ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Utilization Data

30 Background: There are currently few treatment options for relapsed/refractory (RR) indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (iNHL) patients. Idelalisib (IDELA) is a first-in class PI3Kδ inhibitor with substantial clinical efficacy in iNHL patients refractory to rituximab and an alkylating agent. A single-arm clinical trial (Study 101-09) showed RR iNHL patients treated with IDELA have a median of 11 and 20.3 months of progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS), respectively. Efficacy was also demonstrated in patients with iNHL subtypes such as follicular lymphoma (FL). The objective of this study was to project the health outcomes of IDELA versus the current standard of care for US FL patients. Methods: A partitioned survival model simulated a cohort of RR FL patients over 10 year time horizon. Patients first received IDELA or an aggregate comparator of current RR iNHL chemotherapy regimens in a progression-free state before transitioning to a progressive-disease state where they received palliative care until death. Survival data was fit and extrapolated from Study 101-09 (IDELA) for FL patients. A real-world database claims analysis provided survival, disease- and treatment-related adverse event (AEs) profiles, and medical resource utilization data for RR iNHL patients for the comparator. All outcomes were discounted at 3%. Results: Claims data predicted a median of 6.16 and 13.04 months of PFS and OS, respectively, for the comparator. Our model suggests that IDELA treatment improved health outcomes over 10 years versus the comparator, increasing life-months (LMs) and progression-free life-months (PFLMs) by 9.94 and 4.63 mos, respectively. Over 1 year, IDELA reduced both AEs and hospitalisations in FL patients by 40.3% and 49.8%, respectively. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated the model results are robust across different methods of survival extrapolation. Conclusions: IDELA was projected to improve health outcomes in RR FL patients compared to current treatments, largely driven by improved PFS and OS; short-term reductions in AEs and hospitalisation were specifically related to a delayed disease progression.

scholarly journals Immune responses in the thyroid cancer microenvironment: making immunotherapy a possible mission

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. T311-T329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C Mould ◽  
Jacob P van Vloten ◽  
Amanda W K AuYeung ◽  
Khalil Karimi ◽  
Byram W Bridle
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Cancer Microenvironment ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Thyroid Cancers ◽  
Hormonal Modulation ◽  
Differentiated Thyroid Cancers

The incidence of thyroid cancers has been steadily increasing worldwide over the past few decades. Although five-year survival rates for differentiated thyroid cancers are upwards of 90%, clinical outcomes for patients with undifferentiated, recurrent and/or metastatic disease are often dismal despite conventional interventions. As such, there is a demand for novel treatment options. Cancer immunotherapy represents the ultimate form of personalized medicine by leveraging the specificity and potency of a patient’s immune system to kill their tumor. The thyroid cancer microenvironment is rich in immunological cells, making it a reasonable candidate for immunotherapy. This review maps out the immunological features of thyroid cancers and how these can be modulated. There are surprising immunological consequences of conventional therapies that demand attention. Also, hormonal modulation of the immune system is highlighted as a unique and confounding feature of thyroid cancers. A variety of cutting-edge immune-based therapies are discussed, with an emphasis placed on how these can be integrated with the current standard of care. Several high priority areas in need of research are also highlighted.

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