Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are highly vascularized malignancies arising from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. An intricated cross-talk exists between NEN cells and the tumor microenvironment, and three main molecular circuits (VEGF/VEGFR pathway, FGF-dependent signaling and PDGF/PDGF...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.957068/full |
| _version_ | 1798037282924527616 |
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| author | Eleonora Lauricella Barbara Mandriani Federica Cavallo Gaetano Pezzicoli Nada Chaoul Camillo Porta Camillo Porta Mauro Cives Mauro Cives |
| author_facet | Eleonora Lauricella Barbara Mandriani Federica Cavallo Gaetano Pezzicoli Nada Chaoul Camillo Porta Camillo Porta Mauro Cives Mauro Cives |
| author_sort | Eleonora Lauricella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are highly vascularized malignancies arising from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. An intricated cross-talk exists between NEN cells and the tumor microenvironment, and three main molecular circuits (VEGF/VEGFR pathway, FGF-dependent signaling and PDGF/PDGFR axis) have been shown to regulate angiogenesis in these neoplasms. Multiple randomized trials have investigated antiangiogenic agents over the past two decades, and sunitinib is currently approved for the treatment of advanced, progressive, G1/G2 pancreatic NENs. In recent years, two phase III clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of surufatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase angioimmune inhibitor, in patients with well-differentiated pancreatic and extrapancreatic NENs, and two studies of this agent are currently underway in Europe and US. The HIF-2α inhibitor belzutifan has recently received regulatory approval for the treatment of tumors arising in the context of Von-Hippel Lindau syndrome including pancreatic NENs, and a study of this drug in patients with sporadic tumors is presently ongoing. Combinations of antiangiogenic agents with chemotherapeutics and targeted drugs have been tested, with accumulating toxicities being a matter of concern. The potential of antiangiogenic agents in fine-tuning the immune microenvironment of NENs to enhance the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been only partially elucidated, and further research should be carried out at this regard. Here, we review the current understanding of the biology of angiogenesis in NENs and provide a summary of the latest clinical investigations on antiangiogenic drugs in this malignancy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:24:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e142e30a2f584e6d81750a25ff18d59f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:24:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e142e30a2f584e6d81750a25ff18d59f2022-12-22T04:02:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2022-08-011210.3389/fonc.2022.957068957068Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implicationsEleonora Lauricella0Barbara Mandriani1Federica Cavallo2Gaetano Pezzicoli3Nada Chaoul4Camillo Porta5Camillo Porta6Mauro Cives7Mauro Cives8Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDivision of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDivision of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, ItalyNeuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are highly vascularized malignancies arising from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. An intricated cross-talk exists between NEN cells and the tumor microenvironment, and three main molecular circuits (VEGF/VEGFR pathway, FGF-dependent signaling and PDGF/PDGFR axis) have been shown to regulate angiogenesis in these neoplasms. Multiple randomized trials have investigated antiangiogenic agents over the past two decades, and sunitinib is currently approved for the treatment of advanced, progressive, G1/G2 pancreatic NENs. In recent years, two phase III clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of surufatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase angioimmune inhibitor, in patients with well-differentiated pancreatic and extrapancreatic NENs, and two studies of this agent are currently underway in Europe and US. The HIF-2α inhibitor belzutifan has recently received regulatory approval for the treatment of tumors arising in the context of Von-Hippel Lindau syndrome including pancreatic NENs, and a study of this drug in patients with sporadic tumors is presently ongoing. Combinations of antiangiogenic agents with chemotherapeutics and targeted drugs have been tested, with accumulating toxicities being a matter of concern. The potential of antiangiogenic agents in fine-tuning the immune microenvironment of NENs to enhance the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been only partially elucidated, and further research should be carried out at this regard. Here, we review the current understanding of the biology of angiogenesis in NENs and provide a summary of the latest clinical investigations on antiangiogenic drugs in this malignancy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.957068/fullcabozantiniblenvatinibpazopanibcarcinoid tumorTKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Lauricella Barbara Mandriani Federica Cavallo Gaetano Pezzicoli Nada Chaoul Camillo Porta Camillo Porta Mauro Cives Mauro Cives Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications Frontiers in Oncology cabozantinib lenvatinib pazopanib carcinoid tumor TKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) |
| title | Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| title_full | Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| title_fullStr | Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| title_short | Angiogenesis in NENs, with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic NENs: from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| title_sort | angiogenesis in nens with a focus on gastroenteropancreatic nens from biology to current and future therapeutic implications |
| topic | cabozantinib lenvatinib pazopanib carcinoid tumor TKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.957068/full |
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