Neuroendocrine tumors (NET)
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is a rare type of cancer originating from neuroendocrine cells. Main tumor localizations are the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and lungs. NETs are often indolent tumors with a low symptom burden. Consequently, NET is often diagnosed at a stage where the diseasehas spread to other organs. Surgery is the only potential curative treatment in NET, but for non-curative symptom relief, several treatment options exist. Many patients have a relatively good prognosis despite of disease spread to other organs. Neuroendocrine tumors may secrete a variety of hormones, amongst others: serotonin.
The project aims to set up a method for detection of serotonin and related substances by using a highly sensitive and specific method – liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In order to discover and validate biomarker signatures to aid clinical decisions, a considerable amount of blood samples have been collected in well defined clinical situations. Analysis of samples in the context for different clinical situations is ongoing. Possible cllinical uses for the analysis can be evaluation of treatment effect of different treatments, follow-up after surgery (identification of patients at risk of relapse or the disease). The methodology was developed in collaboration with Institute of Pharmacy, UiT, and SINTEF, NTNU.
Members:
Financial/grant information:
The project is supported by IKM, UiT