Islet Cell Tumours

• Pancreatic endocrine tumours can cause hormonal symptoms by over-secretion of hormones. They are less aggressive than exocrine pancreatic cancer, but carry a variable prognosis. The tumours are either sporadic or hereditary, as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome. Despite the rarity of these tumours, they evoke significant interest in the research community and important advances have been made over the past years. This chapter provides an overview of the tumours and recent advances in the field. Hereditary forms of pancreatic endocrine tumours are caused by mutations in the MEN1 gene. Menin, the protein encoded by this gene, has been shown to interact with numerous transcription factors and proteins involved in cell-cycle control, shedding some light on the importance of the protein. Several genes have been shown to be up- or down-regulated, suggesting candidates to be further evaluated for a role in tumourigenesis. Several advances have been made in prognostication; a tumour-node-metastasis system has been evaluated and seems to have prognostic value, and several new molecular prognostic markers are under evaluation. It is hoped that the tumour-node-metastasis system and other prognostic markers will be adopted in clinical routine and improve prognostication and treatment choices. Surgery is still the only cure, but several new palliative drugs and interventions are in use or under investigation. Radiofrequency ablation is increasingly used for liver metastases, and a number of new chemotherapy drugs are being tested. Despite improvements in treatment, no clear improvement in survival has been demonstrated.

Keyword

Pancreatic endocrine tumours

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Insulinoma

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)