Tumour biology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Neuroendocrine tumours of the gastroenteropancreatic tract (GEP NETs) represent a rare and heterogeneous group of tumours. Based on their ontogenetic origin, GEP NETs are classified into foregut, midgut and hindgut tumours. Although they have many features in common, their molecular backgrounds are obviously different. Elucidation of the key factors determining tumour biology has been hampered by the low incidence and high variability of these tumours in terms of origin, morphology and growth. However, recent years have shed some light on molecular genetics of these tumours, revealing important genetic factors as the RET proto-oncogene and the tumour suppressor menin as well as knowledge about the role of growth factors like IGF-1, TGF-beta, VEGF and PDGF for the regulation of differentiation, growth and secretion. In the future, emerging molecular tools in rapid individual genome analysis and in proteomic and array technologies may help to delineate common patterns of NET disease.