Neuroendocrine Tumours

1 medicine

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare, usually slow-growing cancers that arise from hormone-producing cells, most often in the gut, pancreas, or lungs, and are treated with targeted therapies such as everolimus.

Afinitor

Everolimus

5/10mg

Afinitor is a oncology medication containing Everolimus, available as 5/10mg tablets.

from $34.00 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arise from specialised cells that release hormones in response to nervous system signals.
  • They can develop almost anywhere in the body but most commonly appear in the gut, pancreas, and lungs.
  • Many NETs grow slowly and stay symptom-free for years, which is one reason diagnosis is often delayed.
  • Targeted therapy such as everolimus is often used instead of conventional chemotherapy, since many NETs over-express receptors sensitive to mTOR pathway signals.

What NETs are

Neuroendocrine tumours arise from specialised cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system. They can grow almost anywhere but most commonly appear in the gut, pancreas, and lungs. Many NETs grow slowly and remain symptom-free for years, which is one reason diagnosis is often delayed; recorded incidence has risen over recent decades, partly due to improved imaging. Some NETs are "functioning," meaning they release excess hormones that cause recognisable symptoms such as flushing or diarrhoea, while others are "non-functioning" and are found incidentally or once they grow large enough to press on surrounding tissue.

Targeted therapy for NETs

Because many NETs over-express receptors sensitive to mTOR pathway signals, targeted agents rather than conventional chemotherapy are often the front-line medical approach. Everolimus inhibits mTOR and has demonstrated a meaningful delay in tumour progression for pancreatic and non-functional gastrointestinal NETs. It sits within the broader oncology range.

Monitoring and care

Any NET treatment plan is managed by a specialist team. Response is monitored through imaging and tumour markers such as chromogranin A, and treatment is adjusted as the disease or the person's needs change. Because NETs behave so differently from person to person, ranging from tumours that never progress to more aggressive forms, monitoring schedules and treatment intensity are tailored individually rather than following a single fixed protocol.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.