Clinical Neuroendocrinology and Neuroendocrine Tumors

Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Meeting of Experts from Latin America
F. Costa^a, E. Domenichini^c, G. Garavito^e, R. Medrano^g, G. Mendez^d, J. O'Connor^c, W. Rojas^f, S. Torres^h, R.N. Younes^{a, b}, G. Delle Faveⁱ, K. Öberg<sup>j

a</sup>Hospital Sírio Libanês,
^bUniversity of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil;
^cInstituto Alexander Fleming,
^dHospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
^eInstituto Nacional de Cancerología,
^fHospital San Jose, Bogotá, Colombia;
^gCentro Médico Naval, Secretaria de Marina Armada de México,
^hHospital de Oncologia Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI I.M.S.S., Mexico, Mexico;
ⁱUniversita Degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy;
^jUppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroendocrinology 2008;88:235-242 (DOI: 10.1159/000149356)

  Key Words

• Interferon-
• Latin America
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Octreotide
• Radionuclide imaging
• Somatostatin receptors

  Abstract

A panel of experts from Latin America convened in Brazil, in May of 2007, for consensus recommendations regarding the management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. The recently introduced World Health Organization classification of NETs represents a step forward, but the former classification of carcinoids into foregut, midgut and hindgut is still likely to be useful in the near future. Macroscopic description of the tumor should be followed by light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining, whereas other techniques might not be widely available in Latin America. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for patients with potentially curable tumors, and adequate selection is paramount in order to optimize treatment results. Regarding systemic therapy, patients with well-differentiated tumors or islet-cell carcinomas may be categorized as having indolent disease, while patients with poorly differentiated, anaplastic, and small-cell carcinomas, or with atypical carcinoids, may be approached initially as having aggressive disease. Somatostatin analogues play a cytostatic role in indolent tumors, and chemotherapy may play a role against other, more aggressive NETs. Obviously, there is an urgent need for novel therapies that are effective against NETs.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Riad Naim Younes
Thoracic Surgery
University of São Paulo and Hospital Sírio Libanês
R. Dona Adma Jafet 50, 01308-050 São Paulo (Brazil)
Tel. +55 11 3257 2808, Fax +55 11 3242 3337, E-Mail rnyounes@yahoo.com

  Article Information

Received: January 18, 2008
Accepted after revision: May 9, 2008
Published online: July 29, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 52