Expanding your knowledge
Ablation. Surgical procedure in which part of a tissue/organ is removed or destroyed.
Abscess. Accumulation of pus in any part of the body.
Aggressive. Describes a disease or tumor that forms, grows or spreads quickly.
Amino acids. Organic molecules that combine to form protein.
Analog. A chemistry term to explain that a substance is similar but not exactly the same as another.
Angiogenesis. The process of creating new blood vessels. Tumors need a good blood supply that supports their growth.
Benign. Describes a tumor that is an abnormal collection of cells but not cancerous and does not invade other parts of the body.
Beta particle. High-energy, high-speed electrons (β-) or positrons (β+) that are released from the nucleus by some radionuclides during a form of radioactive decay called beta-decay. They do not travel far and are used primarily for treatment since they can damage tumor cells.
Biomarker. A biological molecule found in tissue, blood or other fluids in the body that is a sign of a normal process, abnormal process, condition or disease; they are sometimes used for helping monitor disease.
CAPTEM. Stands for Capcetabine and Temozolomide, a chemotherapy treatment for advanced cancer that has spread (metastasized) and high-grade neuroendocrine tumors.
Carcinoid syndrome. Functional NETs may release high levels of serotonin into the bloodstream and cause a range of symptoms, including severe facial flushing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, low blood pressure and confusion.
Chemotherapy. Treatment that uses drugs to try and stop cancer cells from growing either by destroying them or preventing them from dividing.
Chromogranin A (CgA). A protein released by neuroendocrine tissues. It is an important marker for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) and can be used as a marker in blood/tissue tests to identify NETs.
CT scan. CT stands for computerized tomography, which uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine that takes a series of detailed pictures at different angles to create 3D views of areas of the body; CT scans are used to help diagnose a disease, provide information for a treatment plan or help determine if a treatment is working.
Differentiation. In cancer, this term references how developed (mature) the cancer cells are within the tumor; tumor cells that are well-differentiated look like the normal surrounding cells, which typically grow and spread more slowly than poorly differentiated tumor cells which look very different from the normal surrounding cells and usually grow and spread more quickly.
Electrolytes. Salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate, found in the blood. The balance of fluids and salts or minerals in your body is controlled by the kidneys, so an imbalance of electrolytes may be a sign of a kidney problem.
Efficacy. A term often used in clinical trials and reflects how well a treatment works.
Endocrine system. A system in the body that is made up of cells that make hormones; which are natural chemicals that travel through the body and have specific effects on the activity of other cells and organs.
Everolimus. A type of targeted cancer drug used by itself or with other drugs to treat certain types of tumors. It is sometimes called by the brand name, Afinitor. It is not chemotherapy, but a type of drug called an mTOR inhibitor (mammalian target of rapamycin) that works by targeting and attacking cancer cells.
First-line therapy. The first drug or compound given to treat cancer.
Functional NET. NET that secretes hormones and causes a variety of symptoms depending on the specific type of hormones released.
Gallium-68. A radioactive substance that can be combined with a protein that targets somatostatin receptors. It is injected into the body and used in PET imaging studies to help identify NET.
Genomic testing. A medical test that looks at a person's DNA to find changes or mutations that could lead to disease; it helps doctors understand the genetic causes of certain conditions and can guide treatment decisions, especially for cancers.
GEP-NET (gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor). A rare type of cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells of the digestive system, including the stomach, intestines, and pancreas; which can grow slowly or aggressively and may cause symptoms like stomach pain or changes in digestion.
Grade. Describes how cancer cells look under a microscope and provides details about how fast they are anticipated to grow or spread; low grade tumors look like the normal tissue around them and are usually less aggressive, whereas high grade tumors look different and are usually more aggressive (G1 and G2 = Ki-67 </=20%. G2 and G3 = Ki-67 15-55%).
Growth hormone. A hormone produced in the pituitary gland that regulates the bone, as well as fat and muscle tissues in our body.
Histology. Pathologists evaluate a small piece of tissue (biopsy) under a microscope to provide a precise diagnosis.
Hormone. Chemical substances that are carried through the bloodstream and have specific effects to regulate activity in other cells and organs in the body.
Immunohistochemistry. In laboratory tests, antibodies against specific biomarkers are used to check for their presence in a tissue sample, evaluated under a microscope.
Intravenous (IV). Some therapies are administered as an infusion into a vein.
Ki-67 Index Lesion. A protein used to diagnose and assess the prognosis of a NET; this index measures how much protein is in the cancer cells and provides information about how the cells are likely to grow and spread.
Localized. A tumor that is contained to one area of the body.
Lutetium-177. A radioactive compound that is combined with a protein to target somatostatin receptors; it releases targeted radiation that destroys the tumor cells without harming too much of the normal surrounding tissues.
Malignant. Describes a tumor that is made up of cells that grow out of control. This type of tumor can invade surrounding tissues and potentially spread to other parts of the body.
Metanephrines. Plasma levels of metanephrines can diagnose or rule out a rare adrenal tumor called a pheochromocytoma or a rare similar tumor located elsewhere in the body called a paraganglioma.
Metastasis. The process by which cancer cells spread from one part of the body to another part.
Metastasize. To spread from one part of the body to another part.
Multidisciplinary Team. A team of healthcare providers with different specialties/clinical areas that come together to make decisions and help advise patients about all aspects of NET management.
Neuroendocrine cell. Cells that release hormones into the bloodstream in response to receiving a signal from the nervous system.
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC). An aggressive type of cancer that develops in neuroendocrine cells, which release hormones into the blood. These cancers grow quickly and can spread to other parts of the body, often requiring strong treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). Tumors that develop from neuroendocrine cells that are widely distributed throughout the body; NETs may release excessive hormones and cause a wide range of symptoms.
Neuroendocrine Neoplasm (NEN). A type of tumor that starts in neuroendocrine cells, which produce hormones; these tumors can be slow-growing or aggressive, and they can appear in different parts of the body, especially in organs like the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system.
Neuroendocrine system. A network of neuroendocrine cells that are distributed throughout the body.
Nuclear Medicine. A medical specialty that uses radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (pNET). Tumors that form in hormone-making cells (islet cells) of the pancreas; and can include functioning and non-functioning tumors.
Pathologist. A doctor who identifies diseases and conditions by studying the structure and characteristics of cells and tissues under a microscope.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT). A target therapy that uses a small peptide combined with a radionuclide that releases a specific type of energy (beta-radiation) to help destroy the tumor cells.
Primary site. The location in the body where the tumor started.
Prognosis. Predicting the probable cause and potential outcome of the disease.
Prolactin. A hormone mostly produced in the pituitary gland and with a key role in breast development and milk production, but which is also involved in other body functions, such as regulation of the immune system or metabolism.
Proliferative index. A measurement of the number of cells in a tumor that are dividing (or proliferating).
Positron emission tomography (PET). A PET scan provides pictures that show what body tissues look like and how they work; it can help diagnose and assess how severe the cancer is, and during this scan, a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream.
Radioisotope. An atom that releases excess energy in the form of radiation; also called a radionuclide.
Radiopharmaceutical. Compounds that contain a radioactive substance; including some radiopharmaceuticals that are made up of a radioisotope attached to a targeting molecule and used to help diagnose, treat and/or monitor disease.
Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT). A treatment that uses radioactive drugs to target and kill cancer cells, which delivers radiation directly to the tumor, helping to shrink it or slow its growth, while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
Serotonin. A hormone produced in different organs, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract. It functions as a messenger between nerve cells and other cells throughout the body and helps with various functions, including digestion.
Somatostatin. The name of a hormone that inhibits the secretion of other hormone including growth hormone (GH), insulin and gastrin.
Somatostatin analogue (SSA). Medication given as an injection that mimics the action of the hormone somatostatin, which may reduce the symptoms of NETs by stopping the body from making too many hormones; they may reduce some NET symptoms (e.g. flushing of the skin and diarrhea) and help slow tumor growth.
Theranostics. A medical approach that combines diagnosis and therapy, which uses special techniques to both detect diseases, like cancer, and treat them, often by using the same type of drug to find and target specific cells in the body.
Urea. Chemical waste product produced in the liver and filtered from the blood in the kidneys. High levels of urea in the blood may indicate that your kidneys are not working well enough.