Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Emerging Management Paradigm

Neuroendocrine tumors comprise a spectrum of slow growing neoplasm, characterized by storage and secretion of variable peptides and neuroamines (Massironi et al., 2008). Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are relatively rare, with an estimated incidence of less than 1 per 1000,000 individuals (Metz and Jensen, 2008). A recent review of surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) (1950-2007) database reported the frequency of PNET to be around 7% among all identified neuroendocrine tumors (Lawrence et al., 2011a). Furthermore, they comprise 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms (Metz and Jensen, 2008). However, the incidence is considered to be increasing , perhaps in part due to improved diagnostic capabilities. Median overall survival in PNET ranges from more than 10 years in localized disease to approximately 2 years in metastatic disease (Yao et al., 2008a). Recently, considerable headway has been made in the realm of therapeutics. Therefore, it is imperative that oncologists today have a heightened awareness of this disease entity in order to provide effective care.