Non-functional tumour – Ronny Allan – Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer

Tag: Non-functional tumour

There can be the odd exception but in general terms, NETs are either functional (with a syndrome) or non-functional (no syndrome). It’s also possible that patients can move from one state to another.

Non-functioning tumours—no specific clinical syndrome is observed or excess hormone secretion isn’t sufficient enough to cause symptoms.

Functioning tumors—the tumours’ secretions lead to clinical symptoms due to elevated levels of the associated hormone(s), some more distinct than others.

28Oct 2023 by Ronny Allan 2 Comments

European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS) 2023 guidance paper for nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Latest ENETS Guidelines

There is very much a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to treating Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) in Europe and many other places. In Europe and the extra-Europe CoEs in Australia, Israel and the USA, this is centred on the establishment of the Centre of Excellence programme that has been running since 2009. But underneath that are some excellent MDTs not yet accredited who may still utilise ENETs guidelines to treat and manage their patients. This 2023 guideline paper sets the scene for an important and complex group of tumours - pancreatic NETs. It's well known and accepted that the majority of pancreatic NETs are non-functional, depending on where you look, anything between 50 and 85%. “Non-functional” means that the tumour doesn’t produce a sufficient set of symptoms to cause a hormonal syndrome.While the…

08Aug 2017 by Ronny Allan 2 Comments

Lanreotide for Lung NETs – SPINET Clinical Trial

Clinical Trials and Research, Treatment

Reviewed and updated 19th October 2021. Phase III trial data updatedThere's been a lot of action in the area of what is termed Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NETs). It can therefore sometimes appear that Lung NETs are the poor relation. There are certainly some unmet needs in this area of the anatomy including a lack of research. However, there has been some recent movement. Last year, the use of Afinitor (Everolimus) was approved for progressive, non-functional NET of GI or Lung origin.SPINET Trial for Lung NETsIn late 2016, I tipped you off about an Ipsen sponsored trial for Lung NETs involving Lanreotide (Somatuline). SPINET is a Phase 3, prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Lanreotide plus "Best Supportive Care" (BSC) versus placebo plus BSC for the treatment…

02Nov 2016 by Ronny Allan 9 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer – Exciting Times Ahead!

Inspiration, Survivorship, Treatment

In the last 12-24 months, there seems to have been announcement after announcement of new and/or upgraded/enhanced diagnostics and treatment types for Neuroendocrine Cancer. Scans, radionuclide therapies, combination therapies, somatostatin analogues, biological therapies, etc. Some of the announcements are just expansions of existing therapies having been approved in new (but significant) regions. Compared to some other cancers, even those which hit the headlines often, we appear to be doing not too badly. However, the pressure needs to stay on, all patients need access to the best diagnostics and treatments for them; and at the requisite time. There's even more in the pipeline and I'm hoping to continue to bring you news of new stuff as I have been doing for the last year. Some of these new diagnostics and treatments will benefit eligible patients who are…

10Aug 2015 by Ronny Allan 16 Comments

The Syndromes of Neuroendocrine Cancer – Early Signs of a Late Diagnosis

Awareness

The Syndromes of Neuroendocrine Cancer - Early Signs of a Late DiagnosisOne of the curious things about Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs elsewhere in the text on the basis that a hormonal syndrome is extremely rare in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC)) is that it can very often exhibit one or more vague symptoms collectively known as a 'syndrome'. Syndrome is an apt word to describe these complications as the most general meaning in medical terms is a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder or disease". Having a syndrome can often be the difference between having a 'functional' condition or a non-functional' condition - see more below.This frequently makes NET very difficult to diagnose quickly. It's a very devious disease.Functional / Non-FunctionalThese tumours and associated syndromes are treatable for…