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Neuroendocrine Tumors: From Molecular Pathology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches, Including Theranostics

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 108

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Radiopharmacy, Nuclear Medicine Department, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
Interests: radiopharmacy; cancer theragnostics imaging and internal radiotherapy; tracer development; glutamate carboxypeptidase II; fibroblast activation protein; neuroendocrine tumors
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) focuses on the latest advancements in Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). As precision medicine continues to transform oncology and molecular pathology, theranostics and innovative therapeutic strategies have emerged as powerful tools in NET management.

The present Special Issue invites submissions of original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies that explore the following:

The mechanisms and insights considered to achieve a comprehensive understanding of tumor progression. The exploration of novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches, including the utilization of radionuclide therapies, to identify biomarkers that can drive targeted treatment strategies. The analysis of advanced imaging modalities for diagnosis and treatment planning. The investigation of targeted therapies and the development of personalized treatment strategies to address an individual patient’s needs. The advancement of translational research to establish a connection between laboratory and clinical applications.

By contributing, an individual will become part of a global interdisciplinary effort to advance research in the field of NETs, thereby fostering new collaborations and shaping the future of patient care.

Dr. Behrooz H. Yousefi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • neuroendocrine tumors
  • NETs
  • molecular pathology
  • therapeutic strategies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

16 pages, 1040 KiB  
Review
In Vivo Versus In Vitro Somatostatin Receptor Expression in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Correlation Studies
by Elisabetta Perrone, Giorgio Treglia, Romina Grazia Giancipoli, Lucia Leccisotti, Guido Rindi and Vittoria Rufini
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146551 - 8 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are characterized by hyperexpression on the cell membrane of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). The demonstration of SSTRs, mainly the subtype 2 (SSTR2), is the prerequisite for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSAs). SSTRs can be routinely demonstrated [...] Read more.
Well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are characterized by hyperexpression on the cell membrane of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). The demonstration of SSTRs, mainly the subtype 2 (SSTR2), is the prerequisite for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSAs). SSTRs can be routinely demonstrated in vivo by SSA-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (SSA-PET/CT) and in vitro by immunohistochemistry (IHC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to gather evidence from the available literature on the correlation between the in vivo PET/CT and in vitro IHC SSTR expression in NEN patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, selecting studies correlating SSTR expression in NENs via IHC and SSA-PET/CT. Data extraction, quality assessment, and statistical analysis were performed. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for systematic review (345 patients). Of these, eight studies (299 patients) provided sufficient quantitative data for meta-analysis. The pooled concordance between SSA-PET/CT and IHC was 76% (95% CI: 67.7–84.2), indicating a good correlation between in vivo and in vitro SSTR2 expression. Heterogeneity among studies was moderate (I2 = 65%), reflecting different patient cohorts and methodologies regarding both SSA-PET/CT and IHC. No significant publication bias was detected. Our results confirmed good agreement between in vivo tumor uptake with SSA-PET/CT and in vitro SSTR2 expression with IHC, highlighting the potential of using IHC for clinical decision-making in NEN patients when SSA-PET/CT is not available. Full article
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