J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, joined UAB MedCast to discuss the complexity of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the use of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) as an effective treatment option.
Rose, a faculty member in the Division of Surgical Oncology and director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center, said on the podcast episode that neuroendocrine tumors are rare and frequently misdiagnosed due to their wide range of presentations.
He explained that treatment often requires a nuanced approach based on tumor location, functional status and disease progression.
“Neuroendocrine tumors are heterogeneous and frequently involve multiple organ systems,” Rose said. “Management is rarely straightforward and often demands coordinated, multidisciplinary care.”
In the episode, Rose highlights the role of PRRT which is a targeted therapy that uses the same receptor pathway leveraged in diagnostic imaging as a potentially transformative option for certain patients. He also shares how UAB’s Multidisciplinary Endocrine Tumor Clinic integrates surgery, systemic therapies, nuclear medicine and endocrinology to support long-term disease management.
“Modern PRRT agents allow us to therapeutically target NETs directly, which is a major advancement,” Rose explained. “By integrating PRRT into a coordinated care model, we’re able to offer patients more personalized and effective treatment strategies.”