The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Symposium brings together researchers from around the world-fostering collaboration and leading-edge innovations in the treatment of this uncommon cancer.

BOSTON, M.A., November 6, 2024 - The 2024 Margie & Robert E. Petersen Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Symposium was held October 28-30 at The Hotel Commonwealth in Boston, Massachusetts. Organized by the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) the Symposium attracted over 120 researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in neuroendocrine cancer research. The annual event plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific knowledge, promoting innovation and translating these studies into practical therapies for patients with this often-misdiagnosed disease.

"NETRF is proud of the strength of our scientific network which has resulted in 88 new collaborations, 22 clinical trials and projects, and 8 patents for new technology," says Elyse Gellerman, Chief Executive Officer for NETRF. "NETRF events like this enrich the scientific community… and even more importantly they result in trials, treatments and potential cures for neuroendocrine cancer."

Top Takeaways from Symposium Include:
1. Keynote and Distinguished Service Award Presentation: Dr. Ramesh Shivdasani from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School delivered the keynote address, discussing recent breakthroughs in identifying the cell changes that lead to intestinal neuroendocrine tumors. He was also honored with the NETRF Distinguished Service Award for his invaluable contributions and dedicated service as a member and former Chair of the NETRF Board of Scientific Advisors.
2. Neuroendocrine Cancer Therapies & Resistance Mechanisms:
This session focused on new therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy, in neuroendocrine cancer treatment.
a. Dr. Xianxin Hua discussed the potential of CAR T-cell therapy, now in clinical trials, for targeting neuroendocrine tumors.
b. Dr. Eleonora Pelle presented a novel bispecific T-cell engager immunotherapy targeting somatostatin receptors.
c. Dr. Minah Kim examined factors contributing to resistance against anti-angiogenic therapies in pancreatic NETs
3. Neuroendocrine Cancer Screens and Omics:
This session highlighted the use of genomic and molecular tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), which include neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs).
a. Dr. Aatur Singhi discussed how genomic profiling reveals critical diagnostic and prognostic markers for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
b. Dr. Nicolas Alcala discussed better methods to classify lung neuroendocrine tumors and emerging diagnostic criteria.
c. Dr. Allison Stewart presented strategies to target drug-resistant cells in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas, which are especially prone to relapse.

The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Symposium is NETRF's premier event to create a collaborative environment which empowers researchers to exchange ideas and collectively work towards breakthroughs that have the potential to transform the landscape of NET research.

Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation
31 St. James Avenue, Suite 365 - Boston, MA 02116 - netrf.org

Lori Dolnick, Public Relations - loridolnick@loridolnick.com
Elyse Gellerman, CEO-elyse.gellerman@netrf.org

About NETRF
The mission of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) is to fund research to discover cures and more effective treatments for neuroendocrine cancers. NETRF is the largest global funder of neuroendocrine cancer research and the preeminent resource for expert patient education and support.

NETRF is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Get Involved, Donate, Learn More: Visit www.NETRF.org for more.

This release was published on openPR.