Promising Advances in the Treatment of Malignant Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors

Abstract

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are classified as functional (10 to 30% of the tumors) or nonfunctional (50 to 80%).1 Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors have long fascinated physicians because they produce florid syndromes, owing to ectopic secretion of various biologically active hormones (e.g., insulin and gastrin).1 In the past, the hormone excess syndrome was the leading cause of death; however, with advances in surgical and medical treatments, the natural history of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is becoming the major determinant of death in patients with functional tumors, similar to patients with nonfunctional tumors. This is occurring because more than 50% of all pancreatic . . .