Nationally Recognized Expertise in Neuroendocrine Tumor Care
As a national leader in diagnosing and treating NETs, we have helped hundreds of patients get the answers they seek and the treatment they need. We offer diagnostic therapies and the latest, most effective treatments—many available nowhere else in the Mountain West.
We provide our patients with a wide range of services and treatments:
- Access to multiple clinical trials to discover new ways to detect and manage NETs
- Advanced imaging tools
- Genetic counseling for inherited cancers
- Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT)
- Supportive care to help you feel better
Why Choose Huntsman Cancer Institute?
A NET is a complex condition and requires the skills of multiple health care providers to manage. At Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Health, our multidisciplinary team has the knowledge and resources to answer your questions and provide treatment you can trust. That’s why our multidisciplinary tumor board meets weekly to review each NET case. Then, based on lab and imaging results, our team recommends targeted treatments for each patient’s unique needs.
Our team includes many different types of specialists:
- Cardiologists
- Endocrinologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Genetic counselors
- Liver, pancreas, and gallbladder surgeons
- Interventional radiologists who use medical imaging technology to diagnose and treat medical conditions
- Medical oncologists who guide treatment
- Neurosurgeons
- Nuclear medicine physicians
- Nutritionists
- Pathologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Surgical oncologists from different specialties:
- Gastrointestinal surgeons
- Liver surgeon
- Thoracic surgeons
- Head and neck surgeons
- Endocrinology surgeons
- Genitourinary surgeons
Types of Neuroendocrine Tumors We Treat
Neuroendocrine tumors can occur anywhere in your body but usually grow in your lungs or digestive tract. Our specialists decide on treatment strategies based on the tumor’s location, pathology, and aggressiveness. All types require treatment to ease your symptoms and control cancer growth.
At Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, we treat NETs located anywhere in your body, including:
- Small bowel NETs (often referred to as carcinoids)
- Pancreatic NETs
- Lung NETs (often referred to as lung carcinoids)
- Stomach NETs
- Colorectal NETs
- Paragangliomas and pheochromocitomas
- Renal NETs
Other Types of Neuroendocrine Cancer
We are experts in treating aggressive types of neuroendocrine cancers, often referred to as neuroendocrine carcinomas (small cell or large cell). We also specialize in adrenal cancer, thyroid cancer, and Merkel cell carcinoma.
Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
Treating a NET is complex and may require more than one therapy to reduce your symptoms and slow the tumor growth. The speed of tumor growth dictates the type of treatment we use.
- Chemotherapy—For fast-growing tumors, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy. Most neuroendocrine tumors initially respond to chemotherapy but may come back in a few months. Your treatment team will help you decide the best next steps if the cancer returns.
- Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT)—This treatment is for tumors that grow at a moderate pace. PRRT delivers a small dose of radioactive material (radiopeptide) to your bloodstream through a tube in your vein. The radiopeptide targets NETs growing anywhere in your body.
- Neuroendocrine tumor medication—Doctors treat many NETs with medications. The most commonly used medication is called somatostatin analogues. These hormonal medications are injections used to stop tumors from growing and/or to control symptoms related to hormonal production, such as skin flushing and diarrhea. There are other medications that can be considered targeted therapies or chemotherapy (either IV or in the form of pills).
- Neuroendocrine tumor surgery—Some people benefit from surgically removing all or part of a neuroendocrine tumor. Surgery may also help control symptoms and delay the need to take medication.
- Liver Directed Therapy—Our interventional radiologists use imaging technology to diagnose and treat NETs, including in the liver with embolizations and ablations.
Find a Neuroendocrine Tumor Specialist
What to Expect at Your First Visit
You will meet with a provider who specializes in treating neuroendocrine tumors at your first appointment.
To prepare for the visit, you can:
- Ask a family member or friend to join you for support and a second set of listening ears.
- Bring copies of lab or imaging tests.
- Make a list of your symptoms and when you first noticed them.
- Note any questions you have for the doctor.
- Write down all your medications, including dosages.
After discussing your case, our specialists may recommend additional diagnostic testing. Our doctors and their teams will contact you with the next steps after our multidisciplinary tumor board has discussed your case.
Make an Appointment with a NET Specialist
To make an appointment to see a NET expert, please fill out our appointment form or call 801-587-4422. Our team will determine if your insurance covers treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute or if you need a referral from a primary care doctor.
To refer a patient, please use our online referral form or call 801-587-7000 to speak to a patient registration specialist.
Interested in Participating in a Clinical Trial?
Contact the Cancer Learning Center at 1-888-424-2100 or cancerinfo@hci.utah.edu.