Understanding your options for neuroendocrine tumor treatment
Explore your NET treatment options
Gain clarity on available therapies, how they work, understand their potential side effects, and discover the team that will support you every step of the way.
Know your options to make informed choices
A neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis can bring more questions than answers. If you are wondering how to choose between NET treatment options, you are not alone. Every journey is unique, and understanding the full range of neuroendocrine tumor treatment options is a crucial step to feeling empowered and informed.
This page breaks down some of neuroendocrine tumor treatment choices, from NET surgery options to systemic and targeted therapies to ongoing research. Whether you want to learn about potential treatments for neuroendocrine tumors, look into the latest advances in neuroendocrine tumor therapy, or get to know the side effects of neuroendocrine tumor treatments, you will find valuable insights to help you take an informed step forward.
What you will learn
Overview of NET therapy options
Potential side effects explained
Guidance on choosing treatment
Latest advances in therapy, including information on clinical trials
Trusted, up-to-date guidance based on the latest NET treatment standards
This content is based on the latest NET treatment guidelines and up-to-date information from leading medical and neuroendocrine tumor organizations, helping you find reliable support throughout your treatment journey.
Who this page is for
This page is designed for:
People newly diagnosed with NET seeking to understand their treatment options
People currently undergoing treatment aiming to explore additional therapies
Family and friends supporting loved ones through their NET journey
How to choose between NET treatment options?
Treating neuroendocrine cancer can help reduce the number and size of tumors and ease symptoms. There are several NET therapy options available, and your doctor will guide you toward the best NET treatment approach for you based on the type, stage, and location of the tumor as well as your medical history.
While some people tolerate cancer treatment well, others may experience side effects. It is important to know what to expect and when to contact your care team. They can adjust your plan, recommend medications, or suggest lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms. You can also download our Nutrition eBook for helpful tips.
Below, you will find an overview of some current treatments for NET, possible side effects, and how they may vary from one therapy to another. Keep in mind that side effects may differ from person to person.
NET surgery options
Surgery is often the first step in neuroendocrine tumor treatment, especially when tumors are detected at early stages.1,2 The goal of surgery depends on the type of NET, its location, size, and whether it has spread.
Curative surgery aims to remove the tumor entirely along with a perimeter of clear, healthy tissue. The surgery can potentially cure cancer, and no other treatment may be required.
Palliative surgery is applied if the tumor has spread or is too large to remove altogether. Reducing tumor size can ease symptoms, especially if it is pressing on organs or producing excessive amounts of hormones. This approach is often combined with other NET treatment options to improve effectiveness.
General side effects of surgery*
Your recovery will depend on your general health, the type and complexity of the surgery, and possible complications. Common side effects include pain at the surgery site, bleeding or fluid leaking from the wound, swelling and bruising, infection, fatigue, incisional hernia, and altered function. Your care team will guide you through what to expect and how to manage these symptoms.
Somatostatin analog therapy
A key part of ongoing neuroendocrine tumor treatment involves somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy. SSAs are versions of naturally occurring somatostatin, a hormone produced in the brain and digestive tract that regulates the release of several other hormones and chemicals from internal organs. SSA injections can help stop the overproduction of hormones (such as serotonin) that cause symptoms like flushing and diarrhea, which are typical in some types of NET. SSAs are also shown to slow down tumor growth rate in certain NETs of the digestive tract.3
General side effects of SSAs*
Side effects are generally mild and temporary. They may include loss of appetite, sickness, bloating, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhea (rare), soreness at the injection site, and changes in heart rate. Some patients may also experience changes in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood sugar more often and increase or decrease your medication. Your doctor can help you manage any changes in your medication dose.
While uncommon, long-term use can occasionally lead to gallstones, so regular gallbladder scans may be recommended.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be part of the treatment approach for certain types of NET and may sometimes be recommended after surgery for high-grade NETs,(NETs that have a high rate of cell division which is an indicator of fast growth). It works by slowing or stopping the rapid growth of cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is usually given intravenously (IV) in an outpatient hospital setting that does not require an overnight stay. However, there are also oral chemotherapy agents that your doctor may consider. Your doctor should recommend the options for your specific needs as part of your neuroendocrine tumor treatment.
General side effects of chemotherapy*
There are many chemotherapy agents, and reactions vary by drug type and between different people, so your doctor should discuss potential side effects with you beforehand. Possible side effects include fatigue (this can carry on for several months after your treatment ends), sickness, hair loss, increased risk of infection, weight loss, diarrhea and constipation, dry skin and skin rashes, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
Targeted molecular therapies
Targeted therapies for NET are an increasingly important aspect of treatment, designed to attack cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. They can have different mechanisms of action and affect how cancer cells grow, divide, or spread. For example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be used in pancreatic NETs to block a process known as angiogenesis – the process tumors use to build new blood vessels to maintain a good blood supply that supports their growth.
General side effects of targeted molecular therapies*
As with all NET therapy options, side effects vary by drug. Some general ones may include mouth ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, sickness, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Nuclear medicine
Radionuclide therapy, or peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for neuroendocrine tumors, is an important part of the treatment approach used when other treatment options, such as surgery or chemotherapy, are not suitable or no longer effective. This therapy is delivered intravenously and targets tumors with a high level of somatostatin receptors, which are increased on the cell surface of most NETs. When this therapy is considered, a diagnostic scan is performed to confirm if the tumors are positive for somatostatin receptors. PRRT works by binding to somatostatin receptors on tumor cells and delivering targeted radiation to damage or destroy them.
General side effects of radionuclide therapy*
Common side effects may include: pain after treatment, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased liver enzymes (e.g. bilirubin), fatigue, hair loss, increased risk of infection, risk of carcinoid syndrome flare, and minor changes in blood production. You should contact your treating doctor if you experience any of these symptoms so they can be managed.
Less common side effects include bone marrow or kidney toxicity. To protect your kidneys, you may receive an infusion of amino acids.4
