Symptomatic control of functioning pancreatic NET
Dr. Wouter Zandee provides his thoughts on the symptomatic control of functioning pancreatic NET
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Video Transcript
My name is Wouter Zandee, I am an Endocrinologist at the University Medical Center Groningen.
And today I will be discussing how to reduce hormone symptoms from functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).
These functioning pancreatic NETs are rare but require specific treatment to reduce the symptoms of hypersecretion to increase quality of life.
Symptom Control
Also, symptom control is required to safely perform surgery or to treat with systemic therapy.
In general, two options exist for reduction of symptoms.
First of all reduction of tumour burden can be considered in accordance with the ENETS guidelines. This can be done with surgery, either curative or with debulking surgery or PRRT with Lu177-DOTATATE, and liver directed therapies can be effective.
Specifically, for hormone secretion several options are also available which I would like to discuss in more detail.
First line therapy is generally a somatostatin analogue (SSA) because of low toxicity and proven decreases in hormone secretion.
SSAs can also decrease glucagon secretion, which increases hypoglycemia in small numbers of patients with an insulinoma. So, for patients with an insulinoma the first administration is done clinically.
If an SSA is ineffective in controlling the hormone symptoms, PRRT with Lu177-DOTATATE is especially effective for patients with functioning pNETs. It has a symptomatic response rate of 71% and increases the quality of life for these patients.
Also everolimus can decrease hypoglycemia in patients with an insulinoma.
In case series sunitinib has been prescribed to decrease diarrhoea for patients with a VIPoma. So, these drugs can also be effective for these patients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adequate control of symptoms is essential for patients with a functioning pNET to increase quality of life.
Generally, SSAs are first line therapy but if these prove ineffective PRRT can be especially effective in these patients.
Thank you for watching on behalf of NET CONNECT.
Hello on behalf of CORONARY CONNECT my name is Jan Přeček. I'm a cardiologist from the University Hospital Olomouc in the Czech Republic.
I'd like to talk about safety of low levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C).
LDL-C as a Risk Factor
Elevated LDL-C is a clearly established major risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Risk reduction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is proportional to the absolute and relative LDL-C reduction achieved.
In other words, there seems to be no LDL-C threshold, below which no further atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention can be achieved.
Please respond on a scale of 1 to 5 (5=strongly agree).