Emerging Precision Medicine Approaches for Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors

Abstract

Well-differentiated lung neuroendocrine tumors (LNETs) are heterogeneous cancers that are increasing in incidence. Treatment options for LNETs have expanded in recent years, and our knowledge of the molecular subtypes has also advanced. Multidisciplinary teams have an established role in personalizing the best treatment for individual patients. Other precision medicine approaches for the treatment of LNETs have lagged behind those for non-small-cell lung cancer, with only rare actionable molecular alterations identified and few established predictive factors to guide therapy selection. However, as summarized in this review, there is increasing potential for personalized treatment of patients with LNETs. In particular, advances in radiotheragnostics may allow us to tailor the treatment of individual patients with NETs in the coming years. These advances may soon deliver the promise of more effective, less toxic treatments and better outcomes for patients with these increasingly common cancers.

Keywords

• lung neuroendocrine tumors
• carcinoid tumors
• precision medicine
• theragnostics