NANETS Symposium

The treatment armamentarium of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is expanding to potentially include novel systemic therapies, a refined understanding of genetic changes in patients with pancreatic NETs, and improvements in surgical timing and quality of life (QoL), according to Diane Reidy Lagunes, MD.

Tumor response rates after initial treatment with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy have proven clinical benefit; however, complete response is uncommon.

Determining the true nature, causes, and optimal treatment of neuroendocrine tumors is incredibly important for patients, as even though diarrhea can be a symptom of the disease, it is not always the primary cause.

Jennifer Eads, MD, assistant professor of medicine, senior clinical instructor of medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, discusses the difficulties in diagnosing G3 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), and the varying treatment approaches for these subsets of patients.

Thomas Hope, MD, discusses personalizing therapy for patients with neuroendocrine tumors with Lutathera as well as the significance of somatostatin receptor PET to the treatment landscape.

In a call to action to the neuroendocrine tumor clinical community during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium, presenter Lesley Moody, MBA, addressed the importance of patient-reported outcomes and patient-reported outcome measurements in the everyday care of patients with NETs, beyond clinical trials.

Encouraging results are being seen following the administration of cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in patients with carcinoid and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Clinical benefit of the drug has been exhibited in patients enrolled in a prospective phase II trial, which was initiated in July 2012; however, a randomized phase III trial will be necessary for confirmation.

Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor of medicine (oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, discusses managing the adverse event of diarrhea in patients with carcinoid syndrome, specifically with the use of telotristat ethyl (Xermelo) during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium.

An Abramson Cancer Center expert explains how departments can leverage informatics during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium. 

Bringing coordinated multidisciplinary cancer treatment together into one place is ideal to improve care for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), according to David C. Metz, MD, during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium. 

Andrew E. Hendifar, MD, discusses clinical experience with a 92-gene assay and the importance of molecular classification in the NETs landscape.

David C. Metz, MD, PhD, associate chief for Clinical Affairs, Gastrointestinal Division, Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, discusses the utility of somatostatin analogs and emerging agents in the landscape of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

David Metz, MD, chair of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, discusses the focus on multidisciplinary care and exciting areas of research being presented during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium. 

As an experienced medical oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, Pamela Kunz, MD, says the upcoming 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium offers her a chance to not only expand her own knowledge of neuroendocrine tumor research, but also allows her to share her past experience with professionals just starting out in the field.

The 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium is kicking off tomorrow, October 19, in Philadelphia with a 3-day lineup of presentations sure to leave professionals in the neuroendocrine community with a better understanding of ongoing neuroendocrine tumor research efforts, a look at what is on the horizon, and an abundance of networking opportunities with a variety of specialists throughout their field.

A novel serotonin synthesis inhibitor, telotristat etiprate, helped reduce daily bowel movements for patients with carcinoid syndrome no longer responding to standard-of-care treatments, an encouraging sign for an emerging class of drugs.

Everolimus demonstrated a 52% reduction in the risk of progression or death in patients with lung/gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, improving progression-free survival by 7.1 months compared with placebo.

The future of somatostatin analogs for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) includes potential advances on several fronts, according to a presentation at the NANETS' 2015 Neuroendocrine Tumor Symposium.

Matthew H. Kulke, MD, director of the Program in Neuroendocrine and Carcinoid Tumors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, talks about the strong potential of telotristat etiprate, a novel serotonin synthesis inhibitor.

Results from NETTER-1 trial showed an unprecedented 79% reduction in the risk of progression or death with the radiopharmaceutical Lu-Dotatate compared with high-dose octreotide LAR (60 mg) in patients with progressive, metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Martyn E. Caplin, professor, lead clinician, Neuroendocrine Unit at the Royal Free Hospital, London, discusses the efficacy of lanreotide for the treatment of patients with neuroendocrine tumors, as shown in clinical trials such as the CLARINET study.

Combining the chemotherapy streptozotocin with various mTOR inhibitors was found to effectively target tumors in preclinical studies for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).

Treatment with capecitabine and temozolomide is an effective therapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Jennifer Eads, MD, assistant professor of Medicine, senior clinical instructor of Medicine, Case Western University, reflects on the phase III RADIANT-4 study, which examined everolimus in advanced nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors of lung or gastrointestinal origin.

The 2015 NANETS Annual Symposium begins October 15 and the theme focuses on a team perspective. Kari Brendtro, founder of NANETS, recently spoke with Targeted Oncology about some of this year's upcoming presentations.