What are targeted cancer drugs?

Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ the differences in neuroendocrine tumour (NET) cells compared to normal cells that help them survive and grow. 

For a NET, you might have treatment with sunitinib, everolimus and interferon. 

When you have targeted cancer drugs

You might have targeted drugs for a NET that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and can’t be removed with surgery. You usually have it when other treatments are no longer working.

You may have sunitinib or everolimus if you have a NET that started in the pancreas (pancreatic NET). Everolimus can also help people with certain types of NETs that started in the gut or the lungs. The gut includes the:

• stomach
• small bowel
• large bowel and rectum (colorectal)

Sunitinib

Sunitinib is also called Sutent. It is a type of targeted drug called a protein kinase inhibitor. Protein kinase is a chemical messenger (an enzyme) that tell cells to grow. Sunitinib blocks the protein kinase, so it can stop the NET from growing. 

You usually take sunitinib capsules every day, with or without food.

Everolimus

Everolimus is also called Afinitor. It works by stopping a protein called mTOR from working properly. mTOR controls other proteins and triggers cancer cells to grow. So everolimus can stop the NET from growing or may slow it down. 

You usually have everolimus as a tablet that you swallow every day, with or without food.

Interferon

Interferon is also called interferon alpha or Intron A. It is a man made version of a substance that the body makes as part of the immune response. The immune response is when the body reacts to anything foreign or abnormal such as infection or cancer cells. 

Interferon works in several ways. It:

• interferes with how NET cells grow and multiply
• stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells

You may have interferon on its own or with a drug called octreotide. Octreotide is a type of somatostatin analogue.

You usually have interferon as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously) 3 times a week. Your nurse may teach you how to give the injection yourself at home. Or a family member can learn how to do it, so you don’t have to travel to hospital for treatment.

Side effects

Everyone is different and the side effects vary from person to person. The side effects you have depend on:

• which drug you have
• whether you have it alone or with other drugs
• the amount of drug you have (the dose)
• your general health

A side effect may get better or worse during your course of treatment. Or more side effects may develop as the treatment goes on. For more information about the side effects of your treatment, go to the individual drug pages.

Research into targeted cancer drugs and neuroendocrine cancer

Your doctor might ask you to have treatment with a targeted or immunotherapy drug as part of a clinical trial. 

We have more information about research and clinical trials in the sections about the different types of NETs.

Coping

Treatment for neuroendocrine cancer can be difficult to cope with for some people. Your nurse will give you phone numbers to call if you have any problems at home. 

This page is due for review. We will update this as soon as possible.