Mixed neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasm of pancreas

Mixed neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasm of the pancreas, often called MiNEN (pronounced 'my-nen'), is a rare type of pancreatic cancer. It is also sometimes called mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma, or MANEC. What makes this tumor unusual is that it contains two very different types of cancer cells growing together in the same tumor. One part behaves like a neuroendocrine tumor — a cancer that starts in hormone-producing cells. The other part behaves like a more common type of pancreatic cancer, such as an adenocarcinoma, which starts in gland-forming cells. By definition, each component makes up at least 30% of the tumor. The pancreas is a gland in your abdomen that helps with digestion and controls blood sugar. When a MiNEN develops there, it can disrupt both of these functions. Because the tumor has two different cell types, it can be harder to diagnose and treat than a single-type pancreatic cancer. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), nausea, and changes in blood sugar. Treatment usually involves surgery when possible, combined with chemotherapy. Because this cancer is so rare, treatment decisions are often made by a team of specialists at a major cancer center. The prognosis depends heavily on how advanced the cancer is at diagnosis and which component of the tumor is more aggressive.

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

Bring these to your next appointment

• Q1.What stage is my cancer, and has it spread beyond the pancreas?,Which part of my tumor — the neuroendocrine or the other type — is more aggressive, and how does that affect my treatment?,Am I a candidate for surgery, and what would that involve?,What chemotherapy regimen do you recommend, and why?,Should my tumor be tested for specific genetic mutations that might guide treatment?,Are there any clinical trials I might be eligible for?,What support services — such as nutrition counseling, pain management, or mental health support — are available to me?

Common questions about Mixed neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasm of pancreas