Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Jul;24(7):725-741.
doi: 10.1007/s11864-023-01085-0. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

Management of Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Affiliations
Review

Management of Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Ludovica Magi et al. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are rare and heterogeneous diseases in terms of both clinical and pathological aspects. These tumors secrete hormones or peptides, which may cause a wide variety of symptoms related to a clinical syndrome. The management of functional pNENs is still challenging for clinicians due to the need to control both tumor growth and specific symptoms. Surgery remains the cornerstone in the management of local disease because it can definitively cure the patient. However, when the disease is not resectable, a broad spectrum of therapeutic options, including locoregional therapy, somatostatin analogs (SSAs), targeted therapies, peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), and chemotherapy, are available. The present review summarizes the main key issues regarding the clinical management of these tumors, providing a specific highlight on their therapeutic approach.

Keywords: Gastrinoma; Insulinoma; Neuroendocrine tumors; Somatostatin analogs; Treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Management of functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. This figure represents a practical algorithm for the management of functional pNENs. Abbreviations: RFA, radiofrequency ablation; MEN 1, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 1; TAE, transarterial embolization; TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; TARE, transarterial radioembolization; PRRT, peptide radio receptor therapy; SSAs, somatostatin analogs; PPIs, proton pump inhibitors; IFN-a, interferon alpha.

References

References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. Dasari A, Shen C, Halperin D, Zhao B, Zhou S, Xu Y, Shih T, Yao JC. Trends in the incidence, prevalence, and survival outcomes in patients with neuroendocrine tumors in the United States. JAMA Oncol. 2017;3(10):1335–1342. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.0589. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pavel M, Öberg K, Falconi M, Krenning EP, Sundin A, Perren A, Berruti A. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(7):844–860. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.03.304. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Jensen RT, Cadiot G, Brandi ML, de Herder WW, Kaltsas G, Komminoth P, Scoazec JY, et al. ENETS consensus guidelines for the management of patients with digestive neuroendocrine neoplasms: functional pancreatic endocrine tumor syndromes. Neuroendocrinology. 2012;95(2):98–119. doi: 10.1159/000335591. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ito T, Jensen RT. Perspectives on the current pharmacotherapeutic strategies for management of functional neuroendocrine tumor syndromes. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2021;22(6):685–693. doi: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1845651. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Burns WR, Edil BH. Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors: guidelines for management and update. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2012;13:24–34. doi: 10.1007/s11864-011-0172-2. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms