Abstract
Neuroendocrine carcinomas are rare neoplasms although of increasing incidence and concern. While traditionally considered of indolent nature, once they progress beyond surgical resectability, the outcome is ultimately fatal for the majority of patients. Somatostatin analogs are useful to control symptoms in functioning tumors and may slow tumor progression in certain disease settings, but sensitivity to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy is rather limited. In this context, results of the recently published randomized trials with sunitinib and everolimus have demonstrated for the first time that there are agents able to positively impact on the natural history of this complex disease. In this review, we will discuss available data on angiogenesis and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors for the treatment of advanced well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
MeSH terms
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Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
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Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / blood supply
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Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / drug therapy*
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Everolimus
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Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / blood supply
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Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Humans
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Indoles / administration & dosage
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Indoles / therapeutic use
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Molecular Targeted Therapy
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Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
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Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood supply
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Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Pyrroles / administration & dosage
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Pyrroles / therapeutic use
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Sirolimus / administration & dosage
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Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
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Sirolimus / therapeutic use
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Sunitinib
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
Substances
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Angiogenesis Inhibitors
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Indoles
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Pyrroles
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Everolimus
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MTOR protein, human
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Sunitinib
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Sirolimus