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Review
. 2020 Dec 15:11:604341.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.604341. eCollection 2020.

Clinical Epigenetics of Neuroendocrine Tumors: The Road Ahead

Annamaria Colao  1 , Filomena de Nigris  2 , Roberta Modica  3 , Claudio Napoli  4
Affiliations
Review

Clinical Epigenetics of Neuroendocrine Tumors: The Road Ahead

Annamaria Colao et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs, are cancer originating in neuroendocrine cells. They are mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract or lungs. Functional NETs are characterized by signs and symptoms caused by the oversecretion of hormones and other substances, but most NETs are non-functioning and diagnosis in advanced stages is common. Thus, novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are warranted. Epigenetics may contribute to refining the diagnosis, as well as to identify targeted therapy interfering with epigenetic-sensitive pathways. The goal of this review was to discuss the recent advancement in the epigenetic characterization of NETs highlighting their role in clinical findings.

Keywords: biomarkers; epigenetics; neuroendocrine; neuroendocrine neoplasms; neuroendocrine tumor; trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A list of epigenetic agents useful in the therapy of NETs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Major epigenetic pathways involved in NETs. IGF1R, insulin growth factor 1 receptor; FGFR, fibroblast growth factor receptor; SCF, colony stimulation factor; c-KIT, c-Kit proto-oncogene; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases; PTEN, Phosphatase and tensin homolog; PDK1/2, protein 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1; TSC1/2, Tuberous sclerosis 1/2; RheB, Ras homolog enriched in brain; HIF, hypoxia factor; RheB, Ras homolog enriched in brain; VHL, Von Hippel-Lindau; DEPDC5, DEP domain containing 5; NPRL3, neuropilin 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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