Islet Cell Tumours

Abstract

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.

Nowotwory neuroendokrynne trzustki — zasady postępowania (rekomendowane przez Polską Sieć Guzów Neuroendokrynnych)

“…Clinical symptoms are due to hypoglycaemia, not the presence of tumour (usually it is no more than 2 cm in diameter). They result from neuroglycopenia: pains and vertigo, blurred vision, double vision, abnormal behaviour, confusion, concentration location: pancreas (55%), duodenum/small intestine 44%, symptoms: cholelithiasis (65-90%), diabetes (63-90%), diarrhoea (35-90%) and weight loss [4,[15][16][17][18].…”

“…GHRHoma: unknown incidence rate, malignant neoplasms > 60%, location: pancreas (30%), lungs (54%), small intestine (7%), other (9%), associated with MEN1 in 16%, symptoms: acromegaly [4,15,16].…”

“…ACTHoma: low incidence, malignant neoplasms > 95%, pancreatic location (4-16%), others -extrapancreatic location, rarely associated with MEN1, symptoms: Cushing's syndrome [4,15,16].…”

“…3-6% associated with MEN1; location: primarily body of the pancreas (90%), also sympathetic nervous system, liver, adrenal glands. Symptoms: diarrhoea (90-100%), hypokalaemia (80-100%), dehydration (83%), acidosis, rarely skin reddening, hypercalcaemia, glucose intolerance and functioning gall bladder disorders [4,[15][16][17][18].…”

“…Glucagonoma: incidence rate 0.01-0.1/1,000,000/ /year, malignant neoplasms 50-80%; in 1-20% associated with MEN1; location: body of the pancreas; symptoms: necrolytic erythema (67-90%), glucose intolerance (38-87%), weight loss (66-96%), stomatitis, diarrhoea and hypoaminoacidemia [4,[15][16][17][18].…”