Educational Videos, Explainer Videos
What are Neuroendocrine Cancers?
Neuroendocrine cancers are a complex group of tumours and can sometimes be rare.
They develop most commonly in the digestive or respiratory systems, but can also occur in other parts of the body. These cancers arise from neuroendocrine cells, which play an important role in normal body function by creating, storing and releasing hormones and small proteins (peptides).
Read on to learn more about neuroendocrine cancer, including the different types, how they are classified, and what makes them unique.
About Neuroendocrine Cancers
Neuroendocrine cancer develops when neuroendocrine cells begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way, forming a tumour. Neuroendocrine cells are found throughout the body and have a unique role – they receive signals from the nervous system and respond by producing hormones and other chemical messengers that help regulate essential body functions.
Because neuroendocrine cells exist in many organs, neuroendocrine cancers can develop in different parts of the body and behave in different ways. Some grow slowly over many years, while others are more aggressive. This wide variation is one of the reasons neuroendocrine cancers can be difficult to recognise and diagnose.
There are a number of different types of neuroendocrine cancers and they all have a slightly different way of presenting themselves, both in terms of symptoms and how they look under a microscope (histology).
The naming of neuroendocrine cancers is derived from the anatomical area that they are found in the body and some are named based on the predominant hormone that they secrete. (e.g., Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer or Small Bowel neuroendocrine cancer) or for the primary hormone they produce (e.g., Insulinoma or VIPoma).
Understanding how neuroendocrine cancers are classified, what causes them, and how they behave helps guide diagnosis, treatment decisions, and ongoing care.
The sections below explain how neuroendocrine cancers are graded and staged, what is known about possible causes, and provide explainer videos to help you better understand this complex disease.
Grading & Staging
Understanding the grade and stage of neuroendocrine cancer is crucial in guiding management and developing a treatment plan.
Causes & Risk Factors
The exact causes of neuroendocrine cancer remain unknown, and the majority of cases occur sporadically without a clear cause.
Can Neuroendocrine Cancer be Cured?
When diagnosed at an early stage, neuroendocrine cancer can be effectively treated  with surgery. As with all cancers, if a surgical cure treatment is possible, this should be the first line of treatment. Patients must still be followed for at least ten years to ensure there is no recurrence of the cancer. Unfortunately, many patients are diagnosed later on, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Even when the tumours have spread, the disease and its symptoms can often be controlled for many years. Please check our patient resources and fact sheets for more information.
Explainer Videos
Educational Videos, Explainer Videos
Symptoms Types and Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs)
Educational Videos, Explainer Videos
Genetic NETs explained
Helpful Resources
Booklets & Guides
About NETs
Causes & Risk Factors
Age and Gender as Risk Factors for NETs
Webpage
Grading & Staging
Frequently Asked Questions
Neuroendocrine cancer stage 4 means that the cancer has spread from where it first started to other parts of the body. This is also known as advanced or metastatic neuroendocrine cancer. To learn more about grading and staging click here.
Neuroendocrine cancer can develop anywhere in the body, but most commonly arises in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas (around 60% of cases), followed by the lungs (approximately 20%). Click here to view different types of neuroendocrine cancers.
Neuroendocrine cancer develops from neuroendocrine cells when they undergo changes, causing them to divide uncontrollably, growing into a mass called a tumour. These neuroendocrine cells create, store and secrete a variety of hormones for normal bodily function. To learn more, watch our explainer video -Â What is the Neuroendocrine System and how do Neuroendocrine Tumours develop?
