GEP cells, in the context of cancer research, most commonly refer to cells originating from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). These are rare cancers that typically arise in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or pancreas. GEP-NETs develop from neuroendocrine cells, which are specialized cells that function as both nerve cells and hormone-producing cells, playing a role in regulating various bodily processes. The term "GEP" itself is an abbreviation for gastroenteropancreatic, highlighting the primary locations where these tumors occur.
Several references indicate that GEP-NETs form in cells that secrete hormones. These tumors can be found in various parts of the GI tract, including the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and appendix. The use of "GEP cells" in other contexts, like gene expression profiling studies (GSE103176, GSE103237), refers to cell samples, such as bone marrow CD34+ cells from patients, used in research. In these instances, "GEP" likely acts as an identifier for a specific patient group or experimental setup, rather than denoting a specific cell type. It's crucial to understand the context in which the term "GEP cells" is used to interpret its meaning correctly.
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GEP-NETs (Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors): The most prevalent meaning of "GEP cells" is related to the cells forming GEP-NETs. These are cancerous cells originating from the neuroendocrine system within the gastroenteropancreatic region. Treatment often involves targeted therapies, like Lutathera, which delivers radioactive molecules to kill the tumor cells by damaging their DNA.
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Research Context: In research settings, "GEP" might serve as an abbreviation identifying a specific group of patients or samples being studied, often in the context of gene expression profiling or other genomic analyses. The exact meaning needs to be determined from the study's description.
In summary, while the term "GEP cells" is not a universally defined cell type, its most common meaning is related to the cells forming gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Context is crucial for precise interpretation.
