Lay summary
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are tumours of varying aggressiveness most commonly arising from the gastrointestinal tract or lung. Originally considered rare, the incidence of NENs is increasing. Metastases are present at diagnosis in approximately 50% of patients; bone metastases in around 18%. Bone metastases may result in pain, spinal cord compression, and fractures, and potentially reduced survival. Use of medical therapy for bone metastases is well established in patients with skeletal metastases from other tumour types, including breast and lung cancer, decreasing skeletal complications. There is a lack of prospective studies assessing these agents in patients with NENs with bone metastases.
We will perform a systematic review of bone-modifying treatment in patients with NENs, determine bone metastases rates and use of bone-directed therapy in our Aotearoa/New Zealand population with NENs, while building a multidisciplinary team to develop a protocol for a randomised controlled trial of bone-modifying treatment for patients with NENs.