Episode 13: NET Oncology

EPISODE 13: NET ONCOLOGY

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Is it okay for NET patients to take “statin” medications to lower cholesterol or SSRI medication for depression? How often should full body scans be done? NET oncologist Dr. Jun Gong of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center addresses ten common questions you might ask your NET oncologist along your NET journey.

MEET DR. JUN GONG

Dr. Jun Gong is a medical oncologist of the Gastrointestinal Disease Research and Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors Group in the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai. His primary clinical interests are in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers with a multidisciplinary focus of care along with colleagues from surgery, gastroenterology, radiation oncology, and radiology. He is focused on translational and clinical cancer research in early therapeutic trials and biomarker development to improve patient outcomes in GI cancers.

TOP 10 NET ONCOLOGY QUESTIONS

1. Which is better -- if the tumor is expressing somatostatin on its receptors by DOTATATE scan or biomarker in tissue biopsy?

2. Since the somatostatin analogues bind to somatostatin receptors, can NET patients take “statin” medications for high cholesterol?

3. Is there a link between psychiatric medications and NETS? Can someone with NET take selective serotonin receptor inhibitors SSRI or SNRI?

4. What is the difference between genetic and genomic testing? When would you do genetic screening/testing and when would you do genomic testing/tumor sequencing?

5. Is it possible to find NET markers on serum or blood by using mass spectrum without biopsies? Is there a promising liquid biopsy?

6. How often should full body scans be done to discover metastases to other body parts?

7. Can well differentiated tumors become poorly differentiated?

8. Can NETs produce multiple hormones? Should one try to control any production of any hormones for general prevention? Should we control serotonin production generally?

9. How aggressive should you be to seek out new treatments when tumor burden is stable? (Some patients want to get rid of tumors so side effects of tumors are lessened.)

10. How common is having issues with liver functionality? What are the signs of liver failure due to tumor burden?

DISCLAIMER

LACNETS Podcasts are created for educational purposes only and do not substitute for medical advice. The views shared in this Podcast are the personal opinions of the experts and do not necessarily reflect the views of LACNETS. Please contact your medical team with questions or concerns about your individual care or treatment.