Patients with neuroendocrine cancers unfortunately have few treatment options. Finding biomarkers that will predict those patients whose cancer will progress more quickly could help doctors choose what treatments can be used and when they should be used more aggressively. A study presented at the 2012 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium has found a biomarker that could identify those patients whose cancer might develop the most quickly.
The researchers reanalyzed Phase III data from the large RADIANT-2 (RAD001 in Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors) study that showed increased levels of a blood biomarker chromogranin A (CgA) could point out those patients who are likely to progress most quickly. Other prognostic factors include bone involvement and primary tumors in the lung.
The study also showed the combination of everolimus with octreotide was more effective than previously thought--a finding that could offer these patients another treatment option.
- see the conference abstract
- check out the article
- read the press release