The novel SSTR3 full agonist ITF2984 shows antitumor properties against pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (Pan-NETs)

Somatostatin analogs (SSAs) binding to and activating somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) have been extensively used for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The currently approved synthetic SSAs have high affinity for SSTR2 (octreotide/lanreotide), or for SSTR2 and SSTR5 (pasireotide). These agents have shown symptoms control and antiproliferative effects in subsets of NET patients and this was associated to the expression of the targeted SSTRs. Pancreatic NETs (Pan-NETs) are uncommon tumors with a propensity to metastasize. For unresectable advanced Pan-NETs expressing SSTRs, SSAs are the first-line medical therapy. Pan-NETs express mainly SSTR1, SSTR2 and SSTR3 and thus should respond to agonists targeting SSTR3.