Neuroendocrine Tumor | Ochsner Health

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Clinical Trial

NOLANETS is pleased to announce that we are now offering another new clinical trial option for patients with high grade neuroendocrine carcinoma who have already progressed on chemotherapy. NCT03736720 entitled Liposomal irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin in treating patients with refractory advanced high grade neuroendocrine cancer of the gastrointestinal, unknown or pancreatic origin.

Visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03736720 for more details and contact us for further questions.

New Orleans Louisiana Neuroendocrine Tumor Specialists (NOLANETS)

In medicine, the term “zebra” is used to describe a rare condition. To avoid misdiagnosing patients, medical students are taught to assume that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. They’re told, “When you hear the sound of hooves, think horses, not zebras.”

The problem is “zebras” do exist and getting a diagnosis and treatment plan is often difficult for those with rare diseases such as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). When it comes to treating NETs, however, the team at NOLANETS has earned its' stripes.

An affiliation between Louisiana State University Health Science Center and Ochsner Medical Center, NOLANETS is one of the largest NET programs in the country, a leader in the diagnosis and management of all forms of neuroendocrine tumors. Our team’s dedication has led to superior outcomes for patients with NETs in the United States and abroad.

Why Choose NOLANETS?

NOLANETS has an expansive patient base from around the nation, including over 2,500 new patients

They performed the first Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scan in the Gulf Coast region. This unique scan is pivotal to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with NETs because it is able to detect tumors not seen on MRI, PET scan, CT scan, or Octreoscan.

They developed innovative surgical techniques using state-of-the-art equipment, such as the NanoKnife^® and the NEOPROBE^® GDS (Gamma Detection System), a handheld Geiger counter

NOLANETS patients benefit from weekly multi-disciplinary tumor boards, a collaborative approach to planning treatments and evaluating decisions

The group is actively involved in the development of novel therapeutic agents and performs gene analysis to identify the best treatment plan for each patient

NOLANETS is expanding its clinical trial program, giving patients access to cutting-edge treatments

Team members hold 13 patents in the field of endocrine oncology, and have authored over 125 peer reviewed publications

This program has sponsored multiple regional and national NET patient conferences highlighting current treatments options for patients.
The passion, energy and innovative thinking of the NOLANETS team has benefited thousands of patients all around the world.
The world-renown NOLANETS team includes specialists in medical oncology, surgical oncology, nuclear medicine, radiology, gastroenterology and dietetics/nutritional support.

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Contact Us

To refer a patient, get a second opinion or to make an appointment, give our clinic a call at 504-464-8500 or 1-866-91-ZEBRA (93272).

We are located at:

Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner 200 West Esplanade, Suite 200, Kenner, LA 70065

What's a NET?

A neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is a rare hormone producing tumor that affects neuroendocrine cells that are present throughout the nervous and endocrine systems. Most of the time it is very slow growing and it is often difficult to diagnose. The patient may present with vague symptoms such as flushing, diarrhea, palpitations, cardiac disease or wheezing. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing these tumors, diagnosis is delayed on average of 10 years.

There are many types of neuroendocrine tumors. Carcinoid tumors can originate in the lungs, stomach, thymus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon or rectum. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETS) present as gastrinomas, insulinomas, glucagonomas, VIPomas, and pancreatic polypeptidomas. Other less common NETs include pheochromocytomas, medullary carcinomas of the thyroid and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN-I or II).

NETs can originate anywhere in the body. Carcinoid tumors, however, are the most common detected and are usually found in the lungs or GI tract.

Advanced Care

With innovative technology and experience in complex, metastatic disease treatment options, NOLANETS is changing the way people think about NETs. All treatment, testing and other services are offered on-site. Below are just some of the innovative treatments available at NOLANETS.

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)

PRRT is an outpatient targeted radiation that can halt NET growth. For years, patients had to travel abroad for this therapy, but it was FDA approved in January 2018. NOLANETS participated in the clinical trial leading to this approval and has been one of the busiest NET specialty centers offering this therapy.

Radioactive Microspheres with Y-90

To treat liver metastases, small beads called microspheres are attached to a radioactive element called yttrium-90 (or 90Y) and then injected into an artery close to the liver. The beads travel until they get stuck in small blood vessels near the tumor where they kill nearby tumor cells.

Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT

A combined PET (positron emission tomography) and computed tomography (CT) exam is used for the detection of NETs. This scan replaces the traditional octreoscan.

"The best scan to detect tumors is a Gallium-68 PET Scan or a Copper-64 PET Scan. Copper-64 is a newer scan. The Copper isotope is easier to handle and is more convenient for the patient. I predict it will replace the Gallium-68 PET Scan soon,” says Dr. Philip Boudreaux. The Copper-64 PET Scan is Food and Drug Administration approved and readily available. To follow and assess disease progression in the liver, we have found that the MRI is much better to evaluate the liver than a CT scan.

Lymphatic Mapping

Lymphatic mapping, also called lymph node mapping, uses dyes and radioactive substances to identify lymph nodes that may contain tumor cells.

Superior Outcomes

NOLANETS has a very aggressive approach to the treatment of NET especially small bowel NETS.

The program has:

Best survival 5, 10 & 20 year survival reported in world's literature to date*
Consulted with over 2,400 new neuroendocrine tumor patients
Performed over 1,000 neuroendocrine tumor debulking surgeries
Performed over 100 MIBG therapies on neuroendocrine tumor patients
Performed over 350 liver directed therapies on neuroendocrine tumor patients

Patient Survival Statistics

Expert Multi-Specialty Care Makes a Difference in Your Survival Compared to the National Average

Survival of Stage IV, Well-Differentiated NETS

The NOLANETS Program is an affiliation between LSU & Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner

SEER is the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute, who works to provide information on cancer statistics in an effort to reduce the burden of cancer among the U.S. population.

*"A single Institution's Experience with Surgical Cytoreduction of Stage IV, Well- Differentiated, Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors"
Boudreaux et al. J Am Coll Surg 2014; 218:837-845.

Make a Gift

Please consider a gift to NOLANETS today. Current funds include:

Ochsner NET Innovation Fund: Established to help support the purchase of novel equipment, the development of new radiotherapeutics and other new treatment options. Support educational programs that would help raise awareness and educate physicians and the general public about these rare tumors.

Zebra House Fund:Established to build and sustain an independently operated Zebra House to house patients with NETs and their family members

LSU Health Foundation Carcinoid/NET Research Fund: Established to maintain the NET Research Laboratory at LSUHS.