Cancers

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Translational Medicine in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasias

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Bertram Wiedenmann

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Interests: gastroenterology; hepatology; internal medicine; translational research; gastrointestinal oncology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas characterized by variable growth kinetics and variable clinical courses in relation to their primary location and secretory activity. Therefore, based on their diverse biological behaviors, ranging from indolent to highly aggressive, they pose unique challenges in diagnosis and management. Despite their relative rarity, the incidence has been steadily increasing, attributed to improved diagnostic capabilities and heightened clinical awareness.

Recent advances have been mainly achieved in the field of basic sciences with the molecular profiling of tumor tissue at almost all multiomic levels. It is the aim of this review to elucidate current basic research for its applicability in the clinics. In this setting, it will be of utmost importance to show how this research will impact and improve the early detection and precise characterization of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasias.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims at integrating cutting-edge technologies with an improved understanding of tumor biology, thereby moving the field closer to personalized medicine, offering hope for better prognostic stratification and tailored treatment strategies for patients with the neuroendocrine neoplasia.

Prof. Dr. Bertram Wiedenmann
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.

Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.

Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.

External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.

Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 802 KB

Open AccessCommunication

RBM39 Contributes to MGMT Maintenance in Response to Temozolomide-Induced DNA Damage

by Vahid Khalaj, Jack T. Adams, Solmaz AghaAmiri, Servando Hernandez Vargas, Tyler M. Bateman, Sukhen C. Ghosh, Majid Momeny and Ali Azhdarinia

Cancers 2025, 17(22), 3604; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17223604 - 8 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188

Abstract

Resistance to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide (TMZ) is a significant challenge in treating tumors with high MGMT expression, including MGMT-positive glioblastoma and neuroendocrine neoplasms. In this study, we investigated the effect of RNA-binding motif protein 39 (RBM39) downregulation on MGMT protein levels, based on prior observations suggesting an association between these two proteins. Pharmacological depletion or siRNA-mediated knockdown of RBM39 led to a marked reduction in MGMT protein levels in MGMT-expressing cancer cells. We further showed that dual targeting of RBM39 (using indisulam) and MGMT (with O6-benzylguanine) synergistically enhanced MGMT depletion. Functionally, combined indisulam and TMZ treatment significantly increased apoptosis and decreased clonogenic growth in neuroendocrine tumor cells. These findings identify MGMT as a downstream target of RBM39 in MGMT-expressing cancer cells and highlight the therapeutic potential of co-targeting RBM39 and MGMT to overcome resistance to alkylating chemotherapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Medicine in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasias)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 562 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Using Corticosteroid Prophylaxis to Prevent Tumor Flare Reactions During ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE Treatment in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

by Amanda S. Cass, Emily Skotte, Margaret C. Wheless, Shannon Stockton and Robert A. Ramirez

Cancers 2025, 17(21), 3472; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17213472 - 29 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1642

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Since ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE was approved for patients with somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), tumor flare reactions including increased pain and small bowel obstruction (SBO) have been reported. Retrospective reviews report some success in using corticosteroids for treatment and prophylaxis of tumor flare reactions from ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE. Given that corticosteroids are used in practice to help prevent tumor flare reactions based on limited evidence, we aimed to assess if this practice was efficacious in our patient population. Methods: In this retrospective and single-institution study, we identified adult patients with NETs who were treated with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE between 1 October 2019 and 31 December 2024; these patients received corticosteroids as prophylaxis for flare reactions due to high burden of disease, significant peritoneal or mesenteric disease, or disease involvement of critical structures as determined by the treating provider. Variables including demographics, diagnosis, treatment history, steroid dosing, and outcomes were collected within a RedCAP database. Results: Forty-six patients were identified as having received corticosteroid prophylaxis to prevent a tumor flare reaction due to ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE. Patients had a median age of 66, and 50% were female. The primary disease site was the small intestine (72%) followed by the pancreas (9%). The majority of patients had World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 (41%) or WHO grade 2 (35%) diseases. Most patients (83%) received corticosteroids prior to the initiation of ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE, while 17% of patients received corticosteroids due to having a previous tumor flare after ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE administration. Despite corticosteroid prophylaxis, 28% of patients still experienced a tumor flare event, with three patients experiencing multiple tumor flare events. Small bowel obstructions occurred in 7% of patients and increased abdominal pain in 22% of patients. Adverse events (AEs) due to corticosteroids occurred in 28% of patients. Conclusions: Short-course corticosteroid prophylaxis to prevent tumor flare reactions in high-risk patients with neuroendocrine tumors treated with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE did not appear to decrease the incidence of tumor flare reactions compared to previously reported numbers. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials looking at the use of corticosteroids to prevent tumor flare reactions in patients treated with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE are needed to fully elucidate the safety and efficacy of corticosteroids used in this setting and to determine the impact on treatment outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Medicine in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasias)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Translational Medicine in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasias

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI