Treatment for neuroendocrine cancer
Targeted cancer drugs work by targeting the differences in cancer cells that help them to grow and survive. Other drugs help the to attack cancer. They are called immunotherapies.
Some drugs work in more than one way. So they are targeted as well as working with the immune system.
You might have targeted drugs to treat a NET. These drugs include sunitinib and everolimus.
You might have immunotherapy to treat lung NEC. These drugs include atezolizumab and durvalumab
Your treatment plan depends on what type of neuroendocrine cancer you have.
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
You might have a targeted drug for a NET that has spread to other parts of the body. Or if you can't have surgery to remove the NET. You usually have it when other treatments are no longer working.
For pancreatic NETs, you might have one of the following targeted drugs:
sunitinib
everolimus
For other types of NETs that start in the or the lungs, you might have everolimus.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC)
For lung NEC you usually have chemotherapy drugs. You may have these drugs together with the immunotherapy drugs atezolizumab or durvalumab.
We have information about the different types of neuroendocrine cancer
Sunitinib is also called Sutent. It is a type of targeted drug called a protein kinase inhibitor. Protein kinase is a chemical messenger (an enzyme) that tell cells to grow. Sunitinib blocks the protein kinase, so it can stop the NET from growing.
You usually take sunitinib capsules every day, with or without food.
Everolimus is also called Afinitor. It works by stopping a protein called mTOR from working properly. mTOR controls other proteins and triggers cancer cells to grow. So everolimus can stop the NET from growing or may slow it down.
You usually have everolimus as a tablet that you swallow every day, with or without food.
Find out more about everolimus and its possible side effects
Atezolizumab is also called Tecentriq. It works by blocking a protein that stops the immune system from working properly and attacking cancer cells. It helps to make your immune system find and kill cancer cells. It is a type of immunotherapy for some types of lung neuroendocrine carcinoma.
You usually have atezolizumab as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously).
Read about atezolizumab and its side effects
Durvalumab is also called Imfinzi. It is a type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor. It seeks out cancer cells by looking for the PD-L1 protein and attaching to it. The immune system then recognises the marked cells and kills them. You might have durvalumab for some types of lung neuroendocrine cancer.
You have durvalumab as a drip into your bloodstream (intravenously).
Read about durvalumab and its side effects
Everyone is different and the side effects vary from person to person. The side effects you have depend on:
which drug you have
whether you have it alone or with other drugs
the amount of drug you have (the dose)
your general health
A side effect may get better or worse during your course of treatment. Or more side effects may develop as the treatment goes on. For more information about the side effects of your treatment, go to the individual drug pages.
Doctors are always trying to improve treatments and reduce the side effects. As part of your treatment, your doctor might ask you to take part in a clinical trial. This might be to test a new treatment or to look at different combinations of existing treatments.
Find out about the latest UK research into neuroendocrine cancer
Treatment for neuroendocrine cancer can be difficult to cope with for some people. Your nurse will give you phone numbers to call if you have any problems at home.
Find out more about coping with a neuroendocrine cancer and how to get support
Last reviewed: 26 Feb 2025
Next review due: 26 Feb 2028
Treatment depends on the type of neuroendocrine cancer you have, where it is, its size and whether it has spread (the stage).
Neuroendocrine cancers are also called neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). There are 2 key groups - neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs).
Practical and emotional support is available to help you cope with neuroendocrine cancer.
Neuroendocrine cancers develop in cells of the neuroendocrine system. They can develop in different parts of the body including the lungs, stomach, pancreas and bowel.
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What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
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