News

Immunotherapy has been called one of the most significant advances in cancer in decades. While this approach may work in some cancers, it is unclear if or how immunotherapy can be used in NETs. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) has been leading an effort to understand the potential of immunotherapy in NETs. And now we are beginning to see findings emerge. Researchers shared what they’ve learned at a recent NETRF research symposium. One study was published in a peer-reviewed jo … read more

Washington, D.C. group to host a local and virtual event  eGlobalTech, an IT solutions, cybersecurity, and management-consulting firm based in Arlington, VA, plans a full day of fundraising activities with a 2-mile Family Fun Walk on World NET Cancer Day to benefit NETRF. No matter where you live, you can participate in the DC Walk for Carcinoid Cancer on Saturday, November 10, 2018. Anyone can be a virtual walker in their hometown.    Local event  Those in the metr … read more

In between Sebago Lake and Casco Bay, there’s a Maine community where many people know about NET cancer and can even name someone who has died from it. The abutting towns of North Yarmouth and Cumberland have lost three community members to NETs. In 2017, 22-year-old firefighter Brandon Thibeau died two years after the biopsy of a swollen lymph node showed a NET. A year earlier, the former town manager of North Yarmouth, Marnie Diffin, succumbed within months of receiving her NET diagnosis. Thir … read more

 We are saddened to hear of the passing of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET). She was a legend in the music industry and it is difficult to find the appropriate words to express our sadness of this loss. “We understand the challenge and the pain that Ms. Franklin and her family endured as a result of her diagnosis,” says Elyse Gellerman, CEO of the NET Research Foundation.  “These challenges drive all of us at the NET Research Foun … read more

(Left to Right) NETRF CEO Elyse Gellerman, Kathy Karpus, George Karpus, NETRF Board Chair Dr. Joe Li. We are pleased to announce a $100,000 grant from the Karpus Family Foundation, Rochester, NY. The grant will help us discover insights into the life cycle of neuroendocrine cancer cells, which can be translated into improving the precision and efficacy of therapies. This grant comes at a critical moment in the aggressive push forward on the most promising research studies in neuroendocrine … read more

Patients in different areas of the U.S. are reporting difficulties accessing a relatively new nuclear medicine imaging technique known as the Gallium 68 (Ga-68) scan. These reports prompted a member of the NETRF team to take action. Josh Mailman, treasurer, NETRF Board of Directors, and president of NorCal CarciNET is a NET patient advocate with a specialized interest in nuclear medicine. In late July, Josh was invited to give a lunch presentation to directors at the Food and Drug Administration … read more

New Potential NET Treatment under Investigation It is hard for doctors to know which patients will respond to which therapies. New approaches in personalized medicine use predictive “biomarkers” to help guide treatment decisions. A biomarker is a molecule found in blood, body fluid, or tissue. Research sometimes shows that people with a certain biomarker are more likely to respond to treatment than those who do not have the biomarker. Then doctors can test for that biomarker before starting trea … read more