Neuroendocrine Cancer

Neuroendocrine cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in neuroendocrine cells—special cells that act like both nerve cells and hormone-making cells. These cells help control important body functions, like how you breathe, digest food, or control blood pressure.

Neuroendocrine tumors (also called NETs) can grow slowly or quickly, and they can appear in many parts of the body, like the lungs, stomach, pancreas, or intestines. Sometimes they make too many hormones, which can cause unusual symptoms like flushing (red skin), stomach pain, or diarrhea.

Doctors use tests like blood work, scans, or biopsies to find these tumors. Treatment depends on where the tumor is and how fast it’s growing, but may include surgery, medicine, or special treatments that target the cancer cells.

Types of neuroendocrine cancer include:

• Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NETs)
  • Pancreatic NETs (pNETs): Can include insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, and others. These are sometimes called “functional” if they make extra hormones.
  • GI NETs: Include stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum
  • Small intestine NETs: One of the most common types
• Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors
  • Typical carcinoid tumors (slow-growing)
  • Atypical carcinoid tumors (faster-growing)
  • Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) – aggressive
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) – a fast-growing and more common type
• Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cancer of the skin that often appears as a painless, firm bump on sun-exposed skin
• Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NECs): These are high-grade, fast-growing tumors that can start in the GI tract, lungs, or other areas. They are more aggressive than typical NETs and usually need intensive treatment.
• Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: Rare tumors that grow in the adrenal glands (pheochromocytoma) or near blood vessels (paraganglioma). They can cause high blood pressure and other hormone-related symptoms.