DLL3 Expression in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms – an overview
Updated 20th August 2025 - Background - Conventional therapeutic targets for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) include somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and tyrosine kinases. These pathways are crucial for tumour growth, survival, and angiogenesis. The most well known is SSTRs given that most NETs express these and allows targeted therapies such as somatostatin analogues (SSA) and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) to be used. Other targeted therapies like everolimus and sunitinib, which inhibit mTOR and tyrosine kinases respectively. Sunitinib also targets VEGF as does cabozantinib. For neuroendocrine carcinomas (Grade 3 poorly differentiated), targeting…
The Invisible NET Patient Population
First published August 2017 but updated several times UPDATED TO INCUDE PUBLISHED US FIGURES IN 2025 OPINION I found some of the quotes from the recent NET SEER Database study (Dasari et al) very interesting. The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program is a comprehensive source of population-based information initiated in 1973 that is updated annually. Although the study is US-based, it represents the largest study of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) ever recorded and is therefore a good guide to what might be found beyond USA. Almost 7 times the rate recorded in the 1970s. If you…
A spotlight on Grade 3 (High grade) Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Reviewed and updated 3rd Jan 2025 High Grade Neuroendocrine Neoplasms - the forgotten patient group? When reading articles in the mainstream media, found in medical publications; and even listening to doctors speak about my disease, it's clear that the focus is on the term "Neuroendocrine Tumours" or NET for short. Many websites of advocate foundation organisations and specialist scientific organisations, all still use the term "NET" in their naming. I too am guilty of having a large Facebook site falling into this category. It's little wonder that those with high grade disease can often feel like the forgotten patient group. …
The 50 shades of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
If you read any authoritative source on this cancer, it will normally begin with "Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) are a group of heterogeneous tumours .............". The term heterogeneous means diverse in character or content; or a structure with dissimilar components or elements. This is not surprising as these tumours are found in Neuroendocrine cells throughout the vast majority of the human anatomy. And yet, when you look at many hospital/healthcare sites, advocate organisation sites, and cancer information sources not maintained by Neuroendocrine Cancer scientists or specialists, you might start to think there is just one big type of NET and only…
A First-in-Human Phase I Trial With Antibody Drug Conjugate ADCT-701 in Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinomas
What is the objective of this trial? To test a new drug, ADCT-701 (an Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)), in people with Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). The eligibility extends to al adults aged 18 and older with NENs. It is listed in the NIH database under clinical trial identify number NCT06041516 (Reference 1 below). What are Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)? Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are innovative biopharmaceutical products in which a monoclonal antibody is linked to a small molecule drug with a stable linker. Most of the ADCs developed so far are for treating cancer, but there is enormous potential for using ADCs to treat other…
Irrfan Khan
‘Uncertainty is the only certainty’ Irrfan Khan 2018 Irrfan Khan died in Mumbai India 29 Apr 2020 after being admitted to hospital for a "colon infection" according to many news reports. However, The Times of India wrote about Khan’s colon infection, saying it may have resulted from cancer treatments. Sadly, Irrfan's mother died 3 days earlier but he was unable to attend her last rites owing to India's nationwide coronavirus lockdown restricting citizens' movements at that time. Rest in Peace Irrfan Irrfan Khan, known simply as Irrfan was an Indian actor and producer, well-known for movies, Slumdog Millionaire, Life of…