What is neuroendocrine cancer?
Neuroendocrine cancer starts in the cells of the neuroendocrine system. These cells
are found in most organs, such as the
Neuroendocrine cells act like both nerve cells (neurons) and cells of the endocrine system (endocrine cells). They receive messages (signals) from the nervous system and respond by making and releasing hormones. These hormones control many body functions such as digestion and breathing.
Neuroendocrine cells sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to neuroendocrine cancer. Neuroendocrine cancers are also known as neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Neuroendocrine cancers can be neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) or neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). NETs and NECs behave differently and have different kinds of cancer cells.
NETs have cancer cells that look and act like normal cells (well differentiated). NETs are usually slow growing and may remain in the place where they started for a long time. But it is possible for them to spread if they are not found and treated early. Most neuroendocrine cancers are NETs.
NECs have cells that don’t look or act like normal cells (poorly differentiated). NECs are more aggressive than NETs, which means they tend to grow and spread faster.
There are many types of neuroendocrine cancer. They are often grouped by where they started in the body (called the primary site). Neuroendocrine cancers are most often found in the GI tract and the lung.
The neuroendocrine system
Types of neuroendocrine cancer
How neuroendocrine cancer used to be described
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