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Management of Well-Differentiated High-Grade (G3) Neuroendocrine Tumors

Opinion statement

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for pancreatic NET was updated to include a new category of well-differentiated high-grade (Ki 67 > 20%) pancreatic tumors (NET G3), distinct from high-grade poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC). NET G3 are considered a molecularly, radiologically, and prognostically distinct entity compared to NEC and NET G1/G2. The optimal first-line management in NET G3 and sequencing therapies remains a challenge awaiting future trials taking into consideration the unique characteristics of this category. In this review, we aim to summarize the current evidence in the management of NET G3.

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Correspondence to Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson MD.

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Mohamad Bassam Sonbol declares that he has no conflict of interest. Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson has received research funding from Ipsen and has served on advisory boards for Curium and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals. Research funding from Thermo Fisher Scientific

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Sonbol, M.B., Halfdanarson, T.R. Management of Well-Differentiated High-Grade (G3) Neuroendocrine Tumors. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 20, 74 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-019-0670-1

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Keywords

  • Neuroendocrine carcinoma
  • Neuroendocrine neoplasm
  • Neuroendocrine tumor
  • High-grade
  • PRRT