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Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET)
Several medicines can help control symptoms and tumor growth in people with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). These drugs are used mainly when the tumor can’t be removed with surgery.
Somatostatin analogs are man-made compounds similar to somatostatin, a natural hormone in the body. They can help slow the growth of neuroendocrine tumor cells. They can be very helpful for patients with pNETs that have somatostatin receptors. When somatostatin analogs bind to the somatostatin receptors on cancer cells, they may stop the cancer cells from releasing hormones into the bloodstream, which can often relieve symptoms and help patients feel better. These analogs also seem to help slow the growth of some tumors but cannot cure them.
These drugs can help reduce side effects, such as diarrhea in patients with VIPomas and help the skin rash of glucagonomas. They, however, may not be as effective in treating low blood sugar in patients with insulinomas or treating increased stomach acid production in patients with gastrinomas.
They are very useful in people who have carcinoid syndrome (facial flushing, diarrhea, wheezing, rapid heart rate), although this syndrome is not as common with pNETs as it is with NETs found in other places.
Either drug may be given by your doctor or nurse, or you may learn how to give the injections at home.
The main side effects of these drugs are pain at the site of the injection, and rarely, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. These drugs can also cause sludge to build up in the gallbladder, which can lead to gallstones that usually do not cause symptoms. They can also make the body resistant to the action of insulin, which can raise blood sugar levels and make pre-existing diabetes harder to control.
Other drugs may be used to treat specific symptoms or problems caused by the excess hormone produced by pNETs.
Gastrinomas make too much gastrin, which increases stomach acid levels, and can lead to stomach ulcers. Proton pump inhibitors, for example omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), or lansoprazole (Prevacid), block stomach acid production and may be given to decrease the chance of ulcers forming.
Insulinomas make too much insulin which causes very low blood glucose (sugar) levels. Diazoxide, a drug that keeps insulin from being released into the bloodstream, or diet changes (higher carbohydrate intake or more frequent meals) may be started to raise glucose levels.
Glucagonomas make too much glucagon, a hormone that increases blood glucose (sugar) levels. It works the opposite of insulin. These cancers may be treated with diabetes drugs if somatostatin analogs alone are not enough to control the high glucose levels.
VIPomas make too much vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a hormone that regulates water and mineral (such as potassium and magnesium) levels in the gut. Treatment may involve giving intravenous (IV) fluids to treat the dehydration from diarrhea as well as replace certain minerals that are low.
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Frankton S, Bloom SR. Gastrointestinal endocrine tumours. Glucagonomas. Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1996 Dec;10(4):697-705. doi: 10.1016/s0950-3528(96)90019-6. PMID: 9113318.
National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query (PDQ). Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors) Treatment – Patient Version. 10/7/22. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/patient/pnet-treatment-pdq on August 4, 2024.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors. V.2.2024. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/neuroendocrine.pdf on August 4, 2024.
Nikou GC, Toubanakis C, Nikolaou P, Giannatou E, Safioleas M, Mallas E, Polyzos A. VIPomas: an update in diagnosis and management in a series of 11 patients. Hepatogastroenterology. 2005 Jul-Aug;52(64):1259-65. PMID: 16001675.
Romeo S, Milione M, Gatti A, Fallarino M, Corleto V, Morano S, Baroni MG. Complete clinical remission and disappearance of liver metastases after treatment with somatostatin analogue in a 40-year-old woman with a malignant insulinoma positive for somatostatin receptors type 2. Horm Res. 2006;65(3):120-5. doi: 10.1159/000091408. Epub 2006 Feb 9. PMID: 16479142.
Stehouwer CD, Lems WF, Fischer HR, Hackeng WH, Naafs MA. Aggravation of hypoglycemia in insulinoma patients by the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide (Sandostatin). Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1989 Jul;121(1):34-40. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.1210034. PMID: 2545062.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA grants accelerated approval to pembrolizumab for first tissue/site agnostic indication. Available at www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ApprovedDrugs/ucm560040.htm. Accessed August 8, 2024.
Last Revised: March 29, 2025
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