Höpfner M, Schuppan D, Scherübl H. Treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors with inhibitors of growth factor receptors and their signaling pathways: Recent advances and future perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(16): 2461-2473 [PMID: 18442192 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.2461]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hans Scherübl, Professor, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinikum Am Urban, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit, Dieffenbachstrasse 1, Berlin 10967, Germany. hans.scheruebl@vivantes.de
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2008; 14(16): 2461-2473 Published online Apr 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2461
Treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors with inhibitors of growth factor receptors and their signaling pathways: Recent advances and future perspectives
Michael Höpfner, Detlef Schuppan, Hans Scherübl
Michael Höpfner, Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitäts-medizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin 14195, Germany
Detlef Schuppan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
Hans Scherübl, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinikum am Urban, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit, Berlin 10967, Germany
Michael Höpfner, Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitäts-medizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin 14195, Germany
Detlef Schuppan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
Hans Scherübl, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinikum am Urban, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit, Berlin 10967, Germany
Author contributions: Höpfner M performed data acquisition, manuscript conception and writing; Schuppan D performed clinical interpretation and writing; Scherübl H performed clinical interpretation and writing.
Correspondence to: Hans Scherübl, Professor, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Gastroenterologie und Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinikum Am Urban, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit, Dieffenbachstrasse 1, Berlin 10967, Germany. hans.scheruebl@vivantes.de
Telephone: + 49-30-130225201
Fax: +49-30-130225205
Received: January 14, 2008 Revised: March 15, 2008 Published online: April 28, 2008
Abstract
The limited efficacy of conventional cytotoxic treatment regimes for advanced gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancers emphasizes the need for novel and more effective medical treatment options. Recent findings on the specific biological features of this family of neoplasms has led to the development of new targeted therapies, which take into account the high vascularization and abundant expression of specific growth factors and cognate tyrosine kinase receptors. This review will briefly summarize the status and future perspectives of antiangiogenic, mTOR- or growth factor receptor-based pharmacological approaches for the innovative treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. In view of the multitude of novel targeted approaches, the rationale for innovative combination therapies, i.e. combining growth factor (receptor)-targeting agents with chemo- or biotherapeutics or with other novel anticancer drugs such as HDAC or proteasome inhibitors will be taken into account.
