Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy and the Treatment of Gastroentero-pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Current Findings and Future Perspectives

Neuroendocrine cells are distributed widely throughout the body. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which are epithelial neoplasms with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation, can arise in most organs [1]. NETs are variable in their presentation and are divided into functioning tumors and nonfunctioning tumors. Functioning tumors produce peptide or amines that can cause distinct clinical symptoms such as flushing, diarrhea, hypoglycemia, gastric ulcers, or skin rash. Nonfunctioning tumors on the other hand are more common and usually present with a large mass or bleeding, and are somewhat difficult to differentiate from a classical cancer [2]. Even though clinical and pathologic features of these tumors are specific to the site of origin, some other characteristics are shared, regardless of site [1]