Latest PNET Research

The first and most recent formal study into PNETs was undertaken by St Jude’s and the German Cancer Institute. Summarised here are the key findings taken from an article published in ‘Sturm Cell 2016’ by Dominik Sturm, Brent A. Orr,Umut H. Toprak, David W. Ellison, Andrey Korshunov, Marcel Kool. More details of the study can be found through the link below.

Sturm Cell 2016
Article published on research into PNET sub-types
Click here to access article

1. PNETs are very diverse

When looked at under the microscope PNETs appear to be the same but in fact they are a very diverse group of tumours.

2.The majority of PNETs diagnosed are not in fact PNETs!

The majority of PNET tumours diagnosed in the past under the microscope have been found to have biomarkers in common with other better known tumour groups. A vast majority of PNETs in future will not be diagnosed as PNETs. They will be reclassified to other more common tumour types when studied using molecular profiling. This will mean access to more established treatment protocols for that tumour group.

3. There are 4 sub-types of ‘true’ PNETs

  • Four particular sub-types of PNETs have been identified.
  • These sub-types are being verified in order to develop treatment protocols for clinical trials.
  • The sub-types for now will be grouped under the WHO 2016 classification of ‘CNS Embryonal Tumour, Not Otherwise Specified (CNS-ETNOS’).

4. Identification of another distinct embryonal tumour group

A distinct tumour group has been identified which comprises certain PNETs which have a particular marking in common with another embryonal tumour (the Embryonal Tumour with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes (ETANTR).) These tumors are identified as having the presence of amplification of the C19MC region on chromosome 19 in common which makes their pathology the same. These tumours will be diagnosed as ‘CNS Embryonal Tumours with Multi-layered Rosettes (CNS-ETMR).’