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Drug Development in Neuroendocrine Tumors: What Is on the Horizon?

  • Neuroendocrine Cancers (M Cives, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) constitute a heterogenous group of malignancies. Translational research into NEN cell biology is the cornerstone for drug development strategies in this field. Somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) expression is the hallmark of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Somatostatin analogs and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) form the basis of anti-SSTR2 treatment onto new combination strategies, antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies. Classical pathways involved in NET development (PI3K-Akt-mTOR and antiangiogenics) are reviewed but new potential targets for NET treatment will be explored. Epigenetic drugs have shown clinical activity in monotherapy and preclinical combination strategies are more than attractive. Immunotherapy has shown opposite results in different NEN settings. Although the NOTCH pathway has been targeted with disappointing results, new strategies are being developed. Finally, after years of solid preclinical evidence on different genetically engineered oncolytic viruses, clinical trials for refractory NET patients are now ongoing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Vall Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Pg Vall d’Hebron, 119-129 08035, Barcelona, Spain

    Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez MD, Jorge Hernando Cubero MD, PhD & Jaume Capdevila MD, PhD

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  1. Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez MD
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  2. Jorge Hernando Cubero MD, PhD
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  3. Jaume Capdevila MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez MD.

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Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Jorge Hernandro Cubero has received compensation for service on speakers' bureaus from Eisai, Ipsen, Novartis, Roche, Pfizer, Angelini Pharma, and Advanced Accelerator Applications.

Jaume Capdevila has received research funding from Eisai, AstraZeneca, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Ipsen, Pfizer, and Novartis; has received compensation from Bayer, Eisai, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Ipsen, Pfizer, Merck Serono, Sanofi, Amgen, and Novartis for service as a consultant/guest lecturer.

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Garcia-Alvarez, A., Hernando Cubero, J. & Capdevila, J. Drug Development in Neuroendocrine Tumors: What Is on the Horizon?. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 22, 43 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-021-00834-3

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