Patients, Caregivers, and Friends




Treatments

This section contains links to papers, websites, and publications that track the current research on the treatments available for carcinoid cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.

NOTICE: Many other diagnostic and treatment peer review articles are available under the heading For Medical Professionals. Please understand that these articles were intended for medical professionals and can be very technical. For access to these articles CLICK HERE.


OTHER
BIOTHERAPY
SURGICAL THERAPY AND OTHER THERAPY (targeted for liver tumors)
RADIOTHERAPY (SYSTEMIC)

Other
  • Human Tumor Assay
    Editor
    Larry Weisenthal, MD, Phd
    What is Cell culture drug resistance testing (CCDRT) ?
    Also known as "chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays" or ("CSRAs")

    This journal describes the use of CCDR and its use to identify the best forms of chemotherapy for cancer patients on an individual basis.
  • Hope for the patients with carcinoid syndrome; A new diagnostic tool to help the carcinoid cancer patients See article published by The Canadian Research Society

    Biochemical assessment of niacin deficiency among carcinoid cancer patients. (Abstract)
    Shah GM, Shah RG, Veillette H, Kirkland JB, Pasieka JL, Warner RR.
    Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Oct;100(10):2307-14.
    (Full Text) with permission from the authors.

    It has been shown that giving niacin supplementation to carcinoid patients not only resolves several common symptoms of carcinoid and pellagra, such as skin lesions and diarrhea/ steatorrhea, but also generally improves the health of the carcinoid patients (10, 12, 29). Therefore, our results warrant that niacin status should be determined for all carcinoid patients, so that active niacin replacement could be provided to biochemically niacin-deficient patients. In areas of the world where preformed niacin is not added to the food supply and screening of niacin status is not possible, all carcinoid patients should be supplemented with niacin as a preventative therapy.

Biotherapy (Medical therapy)

Somatostatin Analogues

Important Note: The only somatostatin analogue currently available in the US is Sandostatin (generic name octreotide), manufactured by Novartis. In the rest of the world, three types of somatostatin analogues are available -- octreotide, lanreotide and vapreotide. Lanreotide (trade names Somatuline, Autogel)is manufactured by Ipsen. Vapreotide (trade name Sanvar(R)IR) is manufactured by the Montreal, Cana dian-based pharmaceutical company H3 Pharma

Alpha Interferon

Surgical therapy(for liver tumors)

I

Radioisotope therapy(Systemic)

  • Radioisotope Treatment with LU -177
    See information about this treatment and contact information
    It is a very thorough guide to the treatment process and clearly spells out the steps that need to be taken to get to Erasmus MC.
    http://www.prrt.nl/index.php?lang=en
  • Many European Countries now have systemic radioistotope therapies available;
    Netherlands, UK, Switzerland,Canada and Sweden.
    Please contact ENETS ( the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society) for location and contact iinformation.  http://www.neuroendocrine.net/rel/index.php4?rubrik_id=1&headline=Home
  • Read this fascinating description by a patient who has undergone the LU-177 isotope treatment in Australia..
    Eric's carcinoid journey and experience with LU-177 treatment


    Also visit Eric's home page for more information about Eric.
  • Systemic Radioisotope treatment now available in the US.
    “High Dose Indium-111 Pentetreotide (Octreotide) Therapy in Somatostatin  Receptor Expressing  Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.” 
    High-dose 111In-Pentetreotide (~500 mCi/patient) is now offered in the U.S. for therapy in somatostatin receptor expressing neuroendocrine tumors. This is based on the Investigational New Drug (IND) application filed with FDA. Using this innovative method of cancer therapy, a somatostatin receptor analog (called Pentetreotide) is labeled with a high dose of a radioactive element called Indium-111. Pentetreotide will carry Indium-111 to the site of the tumor and attaches to the receptor site located on the cell membrane. The next step is internalization of  the compound into the cell cytoplasm and next to the cell nucleus. Radioactivity is then deposited in this region and causes damage to the DNA molecules located in the nucleus of the cancer cells. The net effect will be initial dysfunction of the tumor cells, followed by prevention of further tumor growth and leading to cell death.

    This therapy can be applied to the category of neuroendocrine tumors which include Carcinoid, Islet Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas, Oat Cell Carcinoma of the Lung, and Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma” .

    The principle investigator of this program is Dr. Ebrahim S. Delpassand and the project is in collaboration with Excel diagnostic Imaging Clinics, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and RadioIsotope Therapy of America (RITA) Foundation in Houston. FDA has authorized charge recovery for this treatment and majority of the insurance companies as well as Medicare provide coverage for this therapy.

    For further information regarding this treatment, you can contact Ms. Jennifer Hernandez, clinical coordinator of the project at: 713-341-3239.
    jhernandez@exceldiagnostics.com



Last Modified: Sunday, 30-Mar-2008 12:46:02 EDT