Aretha Franklin, known as the iconic “Queen of Soul,” passed away last Thursday at the age of 76 due to advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of cancer.
Jonathan Strosberg, MD, head of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Division at Moffitt Cancer Center and a prolific author in the field, emphasizes the diversity within pancreatic tumors.
These distinctions not only influence treatment approaches and the range of available therapies but also impact the patient’s prognosis in battling the illness.
Pancreatic tumors are broadly categorized into two types.
The more prevalent adenocarcinomas originate in cells responsible for producing digestive enzymes, while a rarer variant arises from islet cells that generate essential hormones for bodily functions.
These pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) account for only a small fraction, approximately six percent, of all pancreatic cancers.
Both Aretha Franklin and Steve Jobs endured years with pancreatic NETs before the cancer metastasized.
Dr. Strosberg elaborates on the contrasting nature of pancreatic NETs compared to the common pancreatic cancer type, highlighting their relatively milder aggressiveness and distinct treatment protocols.
Notably, significant advancements have been made in tailoring therapies for these rare tumors, expanding the scope of available treatment options.
In combating pancreatic NETs that have spread beyond the pancreas, treatments often involve somatostatin analogs as the primary therapeutic approach.
Additionally, ongoing research has introduced novel medications like everolimus, which inhibits specific enzymes within the cells, and sunitinib, a drug impeding the growth of new blood vessels supplying cancerous cells.
Moffitt Cancer Center has been instrumental in pioneering innovative treatment modalities.
Groundbreaking studies conducted at Moffitt unveiled promising results of a dual-drug chemotherapy regimen uniquely effective against pancreatic NETs.
Subsequent multicenter clinical trials confirmed a substantial enhancement in patient survival rates, underscoring the significance of such advancements.
Dr. Strosberg spearheaded an international trial evaluating Lutathera®, a groundbreaking drug recently sanctioned by the FDA for treating pancreatic NETs and other neuroendocrine malignancies.
This revolutionary therapy combines a radioactive element that specifically targets malignant cells, marking a significant milestone in cancer treatment innovation.
With the advent of cutting-edge therapeutic interventions and the specialized expertise offered by physicians like Dr.
