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Burman P, Casar-Borota O, Perez-Rivas LG, Dekkers OM. Aggressive Pituitary Tumors and Pituitary Carcinomas: From Pathology to Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:1585-1601. [PMID: 36856733 PMCID: PMC10271233 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Aggressive pituitary tumors (APTs) and pituitary carcinomas (PCs) are heterogeneous with regard to clinical presentation, proliferative markers, clinical course, and response to therapy. Half of them show an aggressive course only many years after the first apparently benign presentation. APTs and PCs share several properties, but a Ki67 index greater than or equal to 10% and extensive p53 expression are more prevalent in PCs. Mutations in TP53 and ATRX are the most common genetic alterations; their detection might be of value for early identification of aggressiveness. Treatment requires a multimodal approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and drugs. Temozolomide is the recommended first-line chemotherapy, with response rates of about 40%. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as second-line treatment in PCs, with currently no evidence for a superior effect of dual therapy compared to monotherapy with PD-1 blockers. Bevacizumab has resulted in partial response (PR) in few patients; tyrosine kinase inhibitors and everolimus have generally not been useful. The effect of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy is limited as well. Management of APT/PC is challenging and should be discussed within an expert team with consideration of clinical and pathological findings, age, and general condition of the patient. Considering that APT/PCs are rare, new therapies should preferably be evaluated in shared standardized protocols. Prognostic and predictive markers to guide treatment decisions are needed and are the scope of ongoing research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Burman
- Department of Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund
University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Olivera Casar-Borota
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology; Uppsala
University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Uppsala University
Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luis Gustavo Perez-Rivas
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München,
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80804
Munich, Germany
| | - Olaf M Dekkers
- Department of Internal Medicine (Section of Endocrinology & Clinical
Epidemiology), Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZA
Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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Robertson IJ, Gregory TA, Waguespack SG, Penas-Prado M, Majd NK. Recent Therapeutic Advances in Pituitary Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOTHERAPY AND PRECISION ONCOLOGY 2023; 6:74-83. [PMID: 37214211 PMCID: PMC10195013 DOI: 10.36401/jipo-22-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinoma (PC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy that comprises 0.1-0.2% of all pituitary tumors. PC is defined anatomically as a pituitary tumor that metastasizes outside the primary intrasellar location as noncontiguous lesions in the central nervous system or as metastases to other organs. Similar to pituitary adenoma, PC originates from various cell types of the pituitary gland and can be functioning or nonfunctioning, with the former constituting the majority of the cases. Compression of intricate skull-based structures, excessive hormonal secretion, impaired pituitary function from therapy, and systemic metastases lead to debilitating symptoms and a poor survival outcome in most cases. PC frequently recurs despite multimodality treatments, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and biochemical and cytotoxic treatments. There is an unmet need to better understand the pathogenesis and molecular characterization of PC to improve therapeutic strategies. As our understanding of the role of signaling pathways in the tumorigenesis of and malignant transformation of PC evolves, efforts have focused on targeted therapy. In addition, recent advances in the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat various solid cancers have led to an interest in exploring the role of immunotherapy for the treatment of aggressive refractory pituitary tumors. Here, we review our current understanding of the pathogenesis, molecular characterization, and treatment of PC. Particular attention is given to emerging treatment options, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J. Robertson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Timothy A. Gregory
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven G. Waguespack
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marta Penas-Prado
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nazanin K. Majd
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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3
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von Selzam V, Theodoropoulou M. Innovative tumour targeting therapeutics in Cushing's disease. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 36:101701. [PMID: 36511278 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2022.101701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cushing's disease (CD) is the most frequent form of endogenous hypercortisolism. Management of this devastating condition relies on pituitary surgery, while effective pharmacological treatment mainly focus on periphery targeting pharmaceuticals. Approved tumour-targeting drugs are limited to dopamine agonists and somatostatin analogues with frequently low efficacy and substantial side effects. Discoveries on the genetics and pathophysiology of corticotroph tumorigenesis brought forward new potential pharmacological targets. Compounds such as retinoic acid although promising in preclinical studies, are not as efficient in the clinic. Others, such as, silibinin, gefitinib and roscovitine are effective in preclinical models, but their efficacy and safety still needs to be determined in patients with CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian von Selzam
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marily Theodoropoulou
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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4
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Voellger B, Zhang Z, Benzel J, Wang J, Lei T, Nimsky C, Bartsch JW. Targeting Aggressive Pituitary Adenomas at the Molecular Level-A Review. J Clin Med 2021; 11:jcm11010124. [PMID: 35011868 PMCID: PMC8745122 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are mostly benign endocrine tumors that can be treated by resection or medication. However, up to 10% of PAs show an aggressive behavior with invasion of adjacent tissue, rapid proliferation, or recurrence. Here, we provide an overview of target structures in aggressive PAs and summarize current clinical trials including, but not limited to, PAs. Mainly, drug targets in PAs are based on general features of tumor cells such as immune checkpoints, so that programmed cell death 1 (ligand 1) (PD-1/PD-L1) targeting may bear potential to cure aggressive PAs. In addition, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and their downstream pathways are triggered in PAs, thereby modulating tumor cell proliferation, migration and/or tumor angiogenesis. Temozolomide (TMZ) can be an effective treatment of aggressive PAs. Combination of TMZ with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) or with radiotherapy could strengthen the therapeutic effects as compared to TMZ alone. Dopamine agonists (DAs) are the first line treatment for prolactinomas. Dopamine receptors are also expressed in other subtypes of PAs which renders DAs potentially suitable to treat other subtypes of PAs. Furthermore, targeting the invasive behavior of PAs could improve therapy. In this regard, human matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family members and estrogens receptors (ERs) are highly expressed in aggressive PAs, and numerous studies demonstrated the role of these proteins to modulate invasiveness of PAs. This leaves a number of treatment options for aggressive PAs as reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Voellger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6421-58-66447
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Julia Benzel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
- Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Junwen Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Ting Lei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Christopher Nimsky
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
| | - Jörg-Walter Bartsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany; (Z.Z.); (J.B.); (J.W.); (C.N.); (J.-W.B.)
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5
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Raverot G, Ilie MD, Lasolle H, Amodru V, Trouillas J, Castinetti F, Brue T. Aggressive pituitary tumours and pituitary carcinomas. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:671-684. [PMID: 34493834 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00550-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although usually benign, anterior pituitary tumours occasionally exhibit aggressive behaviour, with invasion of surrounding tissues, rapid growth, resistance to conventional treatments and multiple recurrences. In very rare cases, they metastasize and are termed pituitary carcinomas. The time between a 'classical' pituitary tumour and a pituitary carcinoma can be years, which means that monitoring should be performed regularly in patients with clinical (invasion and/or tumour growth) or pathological (Ki67 index, mitotic count and/or p53 detection) markers suggesting aggressiveness. However, although both invasion and proliferation have prognostic value, such parameters cannot predict outcome or malignancy without metastasis. Future research should focus on the biology of both tumour cells and their microenvironment, hopefully with improved therapeutic outcomes. Currently, the initial therapeutic approach for aggressive pituitary tumours is generally to repeat surgery or radiotherapy in expert centres. Standard medical treatments usually have no effect on tumour progression but they can be maintained on a long-term basis to, at least partly, control hypersecretion. In cases where standard treatments prove ineffective, temozolomide, the sole formally recommended treatment, is effective in only one-third of patients. Personalized use of emerging therapies, including peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, angiogenesis-targeted therapy and immunotherapy, will hopefully improve the outcomes of patients with this severe condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gérald Raverot
- Endocrinology Department, Reference Centre for Rare Pituitary Diseases HYPO, "Groupement Hospitalier Est" Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
- Lyon 1 University, Villeurbanne, France
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRLC), Lyon, France
| | - Mirela Diana Ilie
- Lyon 1 University, Villeurbanne, France
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRLC), Lyon, France
- Endocrinology Department, "C.I.Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Hélène Lasolle
- Endocrinology Department, Reference Centre for Rare Pituitary Diseases HYPO, "Groupement Hospitalier Est" Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
- Lyon 1 University, Villeurbanne, France
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRLC), Lyon, France
| | - Vincent Amodru
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Endocrinology Department, Hôpital de la Conception, Reference Centre for Rare Pituitary Diseases HYPO, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1251, Marseille Medical Genetics (MMG), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Marseille, France
| | | | - Frédéric Castinetti
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Endocrinology Department, Hôpital de la Conception, Reference Centre for Rare Pituitary Diseases HYPO, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1251, Marseille Medical Genetics (MMG), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Marseille, France
| | - Thierry Brue
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Endocrinology Department, Hôpital de la Conception, Reference Centre for Rare Pituitary Diseases HYPO, Marseille, France.
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1251, Marseille Medical Genetics (MMG), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Marseille, France.
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6
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Asa SL, Mete O, Cusimano MD, McCutcheon IE, Perry A, Yamada S, Nishioka H, Casar-Borota O, Uccella S, La Rosa S, Grossman AB, Ezzat S. Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: a model for neuroendocrine tumor classification. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:1634-1650. [PMID: 34017065 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00820-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The classification of adenohypophysial neoplasms as "pituitary neuroendocrine tumors" (PitNETs) was proposed in 2017 to reflect their characteristics as epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms with a spectrum of clinical behaviors ranging from small indolent lesions to large, locally invasive, unresectable tumors. Tumor growth and hormone hypersecretion cause significant morbidity and mortality in a subset of patients. The proposal was endorsed by a WHO working group that sought to provide a unified approach to neuroendocrine neoplasia in all body sites. We review the features that are characteristic of neuroendocrine cells, the epidemiology and prognosis of these tumors, as well as further refinements in terms used for other pituitary tumors to ensure consistency with the WHO framework. The intense study of PitNETs has provided information about the importance of cellular differentiation in tumor prognosis as a model for neuroendocrine tumors in different locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia L Asa
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Cusimano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Saint Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian E McCutcheon
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arie Perry
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shozo Yamada
- Hypothalamic and Pituitary Center, Moriyama Neurological Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishioka
- Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Olivera Casar-Borota
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Silvia Uccella
- Department of Pathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Stefano La Rosa
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ashley B Grossman
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Oxford, London, UK.,Royal Free London, London, UK.,Barts and the London School of Medicine, London, UK.,London Clinic Centre for Endocrinology, London, UK
| | - Shereen Ezzat
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Nakano-Tateno T, Satou M, Inoshita N, van Landeghem FKH, Easaw J, Mehta V, Tateno T, Chik CL. Effects of CAPTEM (Capecitabine and Temozolomide) on a Corticotroph Carcinoma and an Aggressive Corticotroph Tumor. Endocr Pathol 2021; 32:418-426. [PMID: 32833164 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-020-09647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Corticotroph carcinomas and aggressive corticotroph tumors can be resistant to conventional therapy, including surgery, radiotherapy, and medical treatment. Recent evidence suggests that temozolomide (an oral alkylating agent) administered with capecitabine (pro-drug of 5-fluorouracil) may improve progression-free survival in patients with high-risk corticotroph tumors and carcinomas. This led to the use of capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM) in two patients, one with a corticotroph carcinoma and the other with an aggressive corticotroph tumor, as well the in vitro analysis of capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil on cell growth and hormone production. Both patients had previous surgical and radiation therapy. The first patient developed leptomeningeal spread 2 years after his radiation treatment. He had 12 cycles of CAPTEM, which resulted in tumor control associated with clinical and radiological improvement. Twenty-seven months later, CAPTEM was restarted for disease recurrence with ongoing tumor response. The second patient had a rapid tumor regrowth 2 years after his third surgical resection. He was treated with 12 cycles of CAPTEM, which led to tumor shrinkage with no tumor regrowth 22 months after cessation of therapy. Experiments using mouse ACTH-producing pituitary tumor AtT20 cells demonstrated that treatment with 5-fluorouracil in combination with temozolomide had an additive effect in reducing cell viability and ACTH production in the culture medium. Our patients and experimental data in AtT20 cells support CAPTEM as a potential treatment option for aggressive corticotroph tumors and carcinomas. However, a prospective clinical trial is required to determine whether CAPTEM is superior to temozolomide in the treatment of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Nakano-Tateno
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 9-112 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Motoyasu Satou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 9-112 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Shimotsuga District, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan
| | - Naoko Inoshita
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho Itabashi City, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Frank K H van Landeghem
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, 5B4.17 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Jay Easaw
- Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Vivek Mehta
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, 2D, Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440 -112, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Toru Tateno
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 9-112 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Constance L Chik
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 9-112 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada.
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8
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Mirallas O, Filippi-Arriaga F, Hernandez Hernandez I, Aubanell A, Chaachou A, Garcia-Alvarez A, Hernando J, Martínez-Saez E, Biagetti B, Capdevila J. Aggressive Pituitary Macroadenoma Treated With Capecitabine and Temozolomide Chemotherapy Combination in a Patient With Nelson's Syndrome: A Case Report. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:731631. [PMID: 34858324 PMCID: PMC8632214 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.731631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Nelson's syndrome is considered a severe side effect that can occur after a total bilateral adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's disease. It usually presents with clinical manifestations of an enlarging pituitary tumor including visual and cranial nerve alterations, and if not treated, can cause death through local brain compression or invasion. The first therapeutic option is surgery but in extreme cases of inaccessible or resistant aggressive pituitary tumors; the off-label use of chemotherapy with capecitabine and temozolomide can be considered. However, the use of this treatment is controversial due to adverse events, lack of complete response, and inability to predict results. We present the case of a 48-year-old man diagnosed with Nelson's syndrome with prolonged partial response and significant clinical benefit to treatment with capecitabine and temozolomide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Mirallas
- Medical Oncology Department, Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Oriol Mirallas,
| | | | | | - Anton Aubanell
- Radiology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anas Chaachou
- Pathology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez
- Medical Oncology Department, Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Hernando
- Medical Oncology Department, Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Betina Biagetti
- Endocrinology & Nutrition Service, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Capdevila
- Medical Oncology Department, Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Nakano-Tateno T, Lau KJ, Wang J, McMahon C, Kawakami Y, Tateno T, Araki T. Multimodal Non-Surgical Treatments of Aggressive Pituitary Tumors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:624686. [PMID: 33841328 PMCID: PMC8033019 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.624686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 35% of aggressive pituitary tumors recur and significantly affect mortality and quality of life. Management can be challenging and often requires multimodal treatment. Current treatment options, including surgery, conventional medical therapies such as dopamine agonists, somatostatin receptor agonists and radiotherapy, often fail to inhibit pituitary tumor growth. Recently, anti-tumor effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as Temozolomide, Capecitabine, and Everolimus, as well as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy on aggressive pituitary tumors have been increasingly investigated and yield mixed, although sometimes promising, outcomes. The purpose of this review is to provide thorough information on non-surgical medical therapies and their efficacies and used protocols for aggressive pituitary adenomas from pre-clinical level to clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Nakano-Tateno
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kheng Joe Lau
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Justin Wang
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Cailin McMahon
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Yasuhiko Kawakami
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Toru Tateno
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Toru Tateno, ; Takako Araki,
| | - Takako Araki
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Toru Tateno, ; Takako Araki,
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10
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Lin AL, Donoghue MTA, Wardlaw SL, Yang TJ, Bodei L, Tabar V, Geer EB. Approach to the Treatment of a Patient with an Aggressive Pituitary Tumor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5905925. [PMID: 32930787 PMCID: PMC7566322 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A small subset of pituitary adenomas grows despite maximal treatment with standard therapies; namely, surgery and radiotherapy. These aggressive tumors demonstrate 2 patterns of growth: they may be locally aggressive or metastasize distantly, either hematogenously or through the spinal fluid. Further surgery and radiotherapy may be helpful for palliation of symptoms, but they are rarely definitive in the management of these malignant tumors. The only chemotherapy with established activity in the treatment of pituitary tumors is the alkylating agent temozolomide. At most, 50% of patients exhibit an objective response to temozolomide and the median time to progression is short; thus, there remains a significant unmet need for effective treatments within this patient population. Several targeted agents have reported activity in this tumor type-including small molecule inhibitors, checkpoint inhibitors, and other biologics-but remain investigational at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Lin
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Multidisciplinary Pituitary and Skull Base Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Correspondence and Reprint Requests: Andrew Lin, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA. E-mail:
| | - Mark T A Donoghue
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sharon L Wardlaw
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - T Jonathan Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lisa Bodei
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Viviane Tabar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Multidisciplinary Pituitary and Skull Base Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Program in Cell Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Eliza B Geer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Multidisciplinary Pituitary and Skull Base Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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11
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Xu L, Khaddour K, Chen J, Rich KM, Perrin RJ, Campian JL. Pituitary carcinoma: Two case reports and review of literature. World J Clin Oncol 2020; 11:91-102. [PMID: 32133278 PMCID: PMC7046923 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v11.i2.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary carcinoma is a rare type of malignancy that can be very difficult to diagnose and treat. Many cases were diagnosed at autopsy. Delays in diagnosis often adversely impact patients' outcomes. Even with prompt diagnosis, treatment decisions remain challenging in the absence of randomized controlled trials.
CASE SUMMARY We report two cases of pituitary carcinoma in men with a history of pituitary adenoma. In the first case, a 55-year-old man was initially diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma. He underwent subtotal debulking of the tumor followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Subsequently, he developed relapsed disease and multifocal intracranial metastases and a diagnosis of pituitary carcinoma was rendered. He passed away despite several lines of systemic therapies including temozolomide, lomustine and bevacizumab. Another 52-year-old man was diagnosed with atypical pituitary adenoma with presentation of sudden onset of vision loss in the right eye. He had recurrent pituitary carcinoma with spinal metastases, treated with surgery, radiation and temozolomide.
CONCLUSION Pituitary carcinoma is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis that is difficult to diagnose and treat. The small number of cases restricts our ability to design randomized clinical trials. Management is largely driven by retrospective studies and case series. Establishing molecular biomarkers and comprehensive genomic profiling could help in decisions about diagnosis and management of pituitary carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Xu
- Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Karam Khaddour
- Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Keith M Rich
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Richard J Perrin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Jian Li Campian
- Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
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12
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Alshaikh OM, Asa SL, Mete O, Ezzat S. An Institutional Experience of Tumor Progression to Pituitary Carcinoma in a 15-Year Cohort of 1055 Consecutive Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors. Endocr Pathol 2019; 30:118-127. [PMID: 30706322 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-019-9568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinoma is a rare disease, defined by the presence of cerebrospinal or distant metastasis of a pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET). To review our institutional experience of pituitary carcinoma, we searched the database of the UHN Endocrine Oncology Site group and the University Health Network pathology laboratory information system from 2001 to 2016. Among 1055 PitNETs from 1169 transsphenoidal resections, we identified 4 cases of pituitary carcinoma, indicating that pituitary carcinoma represents around 0.4% of PitNETs. All four patients were women. The age at initial presentation ranged from 23 to 54 years. Two patients had Cushing disease with corticotroph tumors; one was initially a densely granulated corticotroph tumor that evolved to become sparsely granulated, while the other was a Crooke cell tumor. One patient had a functioning sparsely granulated lactotroph tumor and one had a clinically silent poorly differentiated PIT1 lineage tumor. Apart from a relatively high Ki67 labeling index (≥ 10%) in three tumors, there were no cytomorphologic features at the time of initial presentation that could predict subsequent metastatic behavior. The time from diagnosis of the pituitary neuroendocrine tumor to the diagnosis of malignancy was 3 to 14 years. Therapies included somatostatin analogs, external beam radiotherapy, chemotherapies including capecitabine/temozolomide, everolimus, sunitinib, bevacizumab, and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). One patient died of disease 18 years after initial diagnosis, underscoring the protracted course of this ultimately fatal neuroendocrine malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omalkhaire M Alshaikh
- Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sylvia L Asa
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shereen Ezzat
- Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Room 7-327, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada.
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Abstract
Pituitary adenomas are unique in multiple ways. They are rarely malignant in terms of metastases; yet, they may be aggressive. Their cancerous potential is defined in a classic oncological way by the ability to metastasise, and therefore, it has been crucial to differentiate this process from aggressive behaviour, characterised as a particularly invasive and/or recurrent behaviour and resistance to common modalities of therapy. Recently, however, important changes have been introduced to the diagnosis and management of aggressive and malignant pituitary tumours including the 4th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for endocrine tumours (2017) as well as ESE Clinical Guidelines (2018), although an attempt to establish predictive and/or prognostic markers of clinical aggressiveness remains difficult. In this review, we focus on a group of pituitary tumours causing significant problems in clinical practice and requiring multidisciplinary input. We summarise updates in definitions of tumour invasiveness, aggressiveness and malignant transformation, as well as histological classification, and emphasise the new considerations regarding aggressive and malignant potential and its relationship to therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Dworakowska
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetes, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Guys Richard Dimbleby Department of Cancer Research, Kings College London, London, UK
- Endocard LTD, London, UK
| | - Ashley B Grossman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine, London, UK
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14
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Angelousi A, Dimitriadis GK, Zografos G, Nölting S, Kaltsas G, Grossman A. Molecular targeted therapies in adrenal, pituitary and parathyroid malignancies. Endocr Relat Cancer 2017; 24:R239-R259. [PMID: 28400402 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Tumourigenesis is a relatively common event in endocrine tissues. Currently, specific guidelines have been developed for common malignant endocrine tumours, which also incorporate advances in molecular targeted therapies (MTT), as in thyroid cancer and in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine malignancies. However, there is little information regarding the role and efficacy of MTT in the relatively rare malignant endocrine tumours mainly involving the adrenal medulla, adrenal cortex, pituitary, and parathyroid glands. Due to the rarity of these tumours and the lack of prospective studies, current guidelines are mostly based on retrospective data derived from surgical, locoregional and ablative therapies, and studies with systemic chemotherapy. In addition, in many of these malignancies the prognosis remains poor with individual patients responding differently to currently available treatments, necessitating the development of new personalised therapeutic strategies. Recently, major advances in the molecular understanding of endocrine tumours based on genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptome analysis have emerged, resulting in new insights into their pathogenesis and molecular pathology. This in turn has led to the use of novel MTTs in increasing numbers of patients. In this review, we aim to present currently existing and evolving data using MTT in the treatment of adrenal, pituitary and malignant parathyroid tumours, and explore the current utility and effectiveness of such therapies and their future evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Angelousi
- Department of PathophysiologySector of Endocrinology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios K Dimitriadis
- Division of Translational and Experimental MedicineUniversity of Warwick Medical School, Clinical Sciences Research Laboratories, Coventry, UK
| | - Georgios Zografos
- Third Department of SurgeryAthens General Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas", Athens, Greece
| | - Svenja Nölting
- Department of Internal Medicine IICampus Grosshadern, University-Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gregory Kaltsas
- Department of PathophysiologySector of Endocrinology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Translational and Experimental MedicineUniversity of Warwick Medical School, Clinical Sciences Research Laboratories, Coventry, UK
- Department of EndocrinologyOxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ashley Grossman
- Department of EndocrinologyOxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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15
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Aggressive Pituitary Adenomas: The Dark Side of the Moon. World Neurosurg 2017; 97:140-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.09.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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16
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Kamiya-Matsuoka C, Cachia D, Waguespack SG, Crane CH, Mahajan A, Brown PD, Nam JY, McCutcheon IE, Penas-Prado M. Radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide for the management of extraneural metastases in pituitary carcinoma. Pituitary 2016; 19:415-21. [PMID: 27106209 PMCID: PMC5215904 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-016-0721-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary carcinomas (PC) are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors, accounting for 0.1 % of all pituitary tumors. The diagnosis of PC is based on the presence of metastases from a pituitary adenoma, and not by local invasion or pathological features alone. PC is typically resistant to therapy, with a median overall survival of only 31 months. There is no standard treatment for PC, but maximal safe resection and radiation are performed when possible. Encouraging preliminary data on the use of temozolomide (TMZ)-based therapy has been previously reported. METHODS We report the response to therapy and safety of radiation with concurrent temozolomide (RT/TMZ) in 2 adult patients with heavily pretreated PC and extraneural metastases. RESULTS Both patients had prior history of pituitary macroadenoma. At the time of diagnosis of PC, Ki-67 % was 24.2 and 10 %, with positive p53 staining in one case. Metastatic sites included lymph nodes, liver and bone. Case-1 received RT/TMZ to the tumor bed in the skull base and to the metastases in the cervical lymph nodes. Case-2 received RT/TMZ to recurrent tumor involving portacaval lymph nodes. Both patients achieved excellent long-term control of the sites of treated extraneural metastases, with no significant acute or delayed toxicity. CONCLUSIONS RT/TMZ was safely delivered and might provide sustained control of extraneural metastases in PC. Although this retrospective report has limitations, RT/TMZ can be considered as a therapeutic option for the management of extraneural metastases in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Kamiya-Matsuoka
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Room FC7.3000, Unit 431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - David Cachia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Steven G Waguespack
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher H Crane
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anita Mahajan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul D Brown
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joo Yeon Nam
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Room FC7.3000, Unit 431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ian E McCutcheon
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marta Penas-Prado
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Room FC7.3000, Unit 431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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17
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Lasolle H, Raverot G. Therapeutic innovations in endocrine diseases – part 3 : temozolomide and future therapeutics for aggressive pituitary tumors and carcinomas. Presse Med 2016; 45:e211-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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18
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Campderá M, Palacios N, Aller J, Magallón R, Martín P, Saucedo G, Lilienfeld H, Estrada J. Temozolomide for aggressive ACTH pituitary tumors: failure of a second course of treatment. Pituitary 2016; 19:158-66. [PMID: 26586560 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-015-0694-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Temozolomide (TMZ) is an oral alkylating agent that has been used over the past 8 years to treat aggressive pituitary tumors resistant to conventional therapy. To date, only 25 patients treated with TMZ for ACTH producing pituitary tumors (14 adenomas and 11 carcinomas) have been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS We present a retrospective review of the medical records of three patients with aggressive ACTH producing adenomas treated with TMZ. In the three cases there was evidence of progression to conventional therapy before starting TMZ. We used the conventional scheme for the treatment of gliomas until completing 7, 12 and 6 cycles respectively. Reduction in tumor size was evident after the 3rd, 5th and 4th cycle of TMZ and progression free survival was 25, 19 and more than 12 months in the three patients respectively. Improvement of the ocular and visual symptoms was evident after the 4th cycle of treatment in all cases. Normalization of urinary free cortisol levels was achieved after the 3rd and 9th cycle in the two cases with hypercortisolism. Two of the three patients received a second course of treatment when the disease progressed but it did not stop tumor progression. The principal side effects were G3 neutropenia, G1 and G2 thrombocytopenia, G1 lymphopenia, asthenia and nausea. CONCLUSION The treatment with TMZ is effective and safe in patients with aggressive corticotrophin tumors resistant to conventional therapy. Nevertheless once the disease progresses, a second course of treatment does not seem to be effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Campderá
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Nuria Palacios
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Aller
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Magallón
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Martín
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gertrudis Saucedo
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Howard Lilienfeld
- Department of Endocrinology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Javier Estrada
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Calle Manuel de Falla 1 Majadahonda, 28222, Madrid, Spain
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19
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Liu IH, Ford JM, Kunz PL. DNA-repair defects in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and potential clinical applications. Cancer Treat Rev 2015; 44:1-9. [PMID: 26924193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of DNA repair in pathogenesis and response to treatment is not well understood in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). However, the existing literature reveals important preliminary trends and targets in the genetic landscape of pNETs. Notably, pNETs have been shown to harbor defects in the direct reversal MGMT gene and the DNA mismatch repair genes, suggesting that these genes may be strong candidates for further prospective studies. METHODS PubMed searches were conducted for original studies assessing the DNA repair genes MGMT and MMR in pNETs, as well as for PTEN and MEN1, which are not directly DNA repair genes but are involved in DNA repair pathways. Searches were specific to pNETs, yielding five original studies on MGMT and four on MMR. Six original papers studied PTEN in pNETs. Five studied MEN1 in pNETs, and two others implicated MEN1 in DNA repair processes. RESULTS The five studies on MGMT in pNET tumor samples found MGMT loss of between 24% and 51% of tumor samples by IHC staining and between 0% and 40% by promoter hypermethylation, revealing discrepancies in methods assessing MGMT expression as well as potential weaknesses in the correlation between MGMT IHC expression and promoter hypermethylation rates. Four studies on MMR in pNET tumor samples indicated similar ambiguities, as promoter hypermethylation of the MLH1 MMR gene ranged from 0% to 31% of pNETs, while IHC staining revealed loss of MMR genes in between 0% and 36% of pNETs sampled. Studies also indicated that PTEN and MEN1 are commonly mutated or underexpressed genes in pNETs, although frequency of mutation or loss of expression was again variable among different studies. CONCLUSION Further studies are essential in determining a more thorough repertoire of DNA repair defects in pNETs and the clinical significance of these defects. This literature review synthesises the existing knowledge of relevant DNA repair pathways and studies of the specific genes that carry out these repair mechanisms in pNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James M Ford
- Stanford University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Pamela L Kunz
- Stanford University School of Medicine, 875 Blake Wilbur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5826, United States.
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20
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Ji Y, Vogel RI, Lou E. Temozolomide treatment of pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas: systematic review of case reports. Neurooncol Pract 2015; 3:188-195. [PMID: 27551432 DOI: 10.1093/nop/npv059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary carcinomas (PC) and atypical pituitary adenomas (APA) are rare variants of pituitary tumors for which no evidence-based treatment currently exists. We sought to determine whether temozolomide represents an effective chemotherapeutic option for patients with PC and APA. METHODS A systematic review was performed using all published cases of PC and APA treated with temozolomide, and for which information on treatment regimen, clinical response, and survival could be identified. The primary goal of this analysis was to describe overall survival and progression-free survival among PC and APA patients after temozolomide treatment. Secondary goals included assessment of response rate and biomarkers of response. RESULTS We identified 57 cases and obtained follow-up data on 54 patients (31 APA and 23 PC) for analysis. Estimates of 5-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 21.9% and 57.4% for patients with APA and 36.1% and 56.2% for patients with PC. Among those who responded to temozolomide, overall survival was marginally statistically significantly greater for patients on long-term temozolomide therapy compared with those who were not (5-year overall survival 91.7% vs 54.1%, P = .08); Progression-free survival results were similar but not statistically significant. The objective response rate was 48.4% for patients with APA and 65.2% for patients with PC. Stable disease occurred in 29% of APA and 17.4% of PC patients. Neither histology nor expression of Ki-67 correlated with response; however, negative O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase staining was strongly related to response to temozolomide in patients with APA (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Temozolomide is an effective treatment of both PC and APA, and long-term treatment can be considered for particularly aggressive cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ji
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (Y.J., E.L.); Masonic Cancer Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (R.I.V.)
| | - Rachel Isaksson Vogel
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (Y.J., E.L.); Masonic Cancer Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (R.I.V.)
| | - Emil Lou
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (Y.J., E.L.); Masonic Cancer Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN (R.I.V.)
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21
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Temozolomide-Induced Shrinkage of Invasive Pituitary Adenoma in Patient with Nelson's Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Rep Endocrinol 2015. [PMID: 26221547 PMCID: PMC4499620 DOI: 10.1155/2015/623092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Invasive tumours in Nelson's syndrome need aggressive therapy. Recent reports have documented the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) in the treatment of adenomas resistant to conventional management. Objective. The review of the literature concerning TMZ treatment of atypical corticotroph adenomas and a case study of 56-year-old woman who developed Nelson's syndrome. Treatment Proceeding. The patient with Cushing's disease underwent transsphenoidal adenomectomy followed by a 27-month-long period of remission. Due to a regrowth of the tumor, she underwent two reoperations followed by stereotactic radiotherapy. Because of treatment failures, bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. Then she developed Nelson's syndrome. A fourth transsphenoidal adenomectomy was performed, but there was a rapid recurrence. Five months later, she underwent a right frontotemporal craniotomy. Due to a rapid regrowth of the tumour, the patient did not receive gamma-knife therapy and was treated with cabergoline and somatostatin analogue for some time. Only TMZ therapy resulted in marked clinical, biochemical, and radiological improvement. To date, this is the first case of invasive corticotroph adenoma in Nelson's syndrome treated with temozolomide in Poland. Conclusion. In our opinion, temozolomide can be an effective treatment option of invasive adenomas in Nelson's syndrome.
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Azad TD, Veeravagu A, Kumar S, Katznelson L. Nelson Syndrome: Update on Therapeutic Approaches. World Neurosurg 2015; 83:1135-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE Silent corticotroph adenomas (SCAs) comprise 20% of all corticotroph adenomas and 3-19% of nonfunctioning adenomas (NFAs). As they do not manifest clinical or biochemical hypercortisolism, they are diagnosed after pathologic examination of resected tumor tissue demonstrates positive ACTH expression. While preoperative features are similar to those of NFAs, SCAs may have more cavernous sinus invasion. Further, patients with SCAs tend to have more frequent and earlier recurrences than those with NFAs, often necessitating multiple surgeries and other modalities of treatment. This article reviews the incidence, pathogenesis, and clinical behavior of SCAs. METHODS A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed for information regarding SCAs. RESULTS Up to date findings regarding epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, clinical presentation, postoperative course, and management of patients with SCAs are presented. CONCLUSION This review highlights the necessity of rigorous monitoring for recurrences and hypopituitarism in patients with SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odelia Cooper
- Pituitary Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Suite A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA,
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24
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Syro LV, Rotondo F, Cusimano MD, Di Ieva A, Horvath E, Restrepo LM, Wong M, Killinger DW, Smyth H, Kovacs K. Current status on histological classification in Cushing's disease. Pituitary 2015; 18:217-24. [PMID: 25501318 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-014-0619-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Managing Cushing's disease remains a challenge. Surgery is the first option of treatment and it offers a high success rate. Even in cases where biochemical remission is not achieved, it is crucial to obtain surgical tissue for morphological diagnosis because the therapeutic approach can be modified according to the findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was performed using PubMed for information regarding pathology and Cushing's disease. RESULTS The histopathological features found in the pituitary gland of patients with Cushing's disease are presented. CONCLUSION Different subtypes of ACTH-producing pituitary tumors are recognized and characterized. The significance of finding a normal pituitary gland with or without Crooke's changes is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis V Syro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Clinica Medellin and Group of Genetics, Regeneration and Cancer, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia,
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Liu JK, Patel J, Eloy JA. The role of temozolomide in the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors. J Clin Neurosci 2015; 22:923-9. [PMID: 25772801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary tumors are amongst the most common intracranial neoplasms and are generally benign. However, some pituitary tumors exhibit clinically aggressive behavior that is characterized by tumor recurrence and continued progression despite repeated treatments with conventional surgical, radiation and medical therapies. More recently, temozolomide, a second generation oral alkylating agent, has shown therapeutic promise for aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas with favorable clinical and radiographic responses. Temozolomide causes DNA damage by methylation of the O(6) position of guanine, which results in potent cytotoxic DNA adducts and consequently, tumor cell apoptosis. The degree of MGMT expression appears to be inversely related to therapeutic responsiveness to temozolomide with a significant number of temozolomide-sensitive pituitary tumors exhibiting low MGMT expression. The presence of high MGMT expression appears to mitigate the effectiveness of temozolomide and this has been used as a marker in several studies to predict the efficacy of temozolomide. Recent evidence also suggests that mutations in mismatch repair proteins such as MSH6 could render pituitary tumors resistant to temozolomide. In this article, the authors review the development of temozolomide, its biochemistry and interaction with O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), its role in adjuvant treatment of aggressive pituitary neoplasms, and future works that could influence the efficacy of temozolomide therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Liu
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Neurological Institute of New Jersey, Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Suite 8100, 90 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
| | - Jimmy Patel
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jean Anderson Eloy
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Neurological Institute of New Jersey, Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Suite 8100, 90 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
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Bruno OD, Juárez-Allen L, Christiansen SB, Manavela M, Danilowicz K, Vigovich C, Gómez RM. Temozolomide Therapy for Aggressive Pituitary Tumors: Results in a Small Series of Patients from Argentina. Int J Endocrinol 2015; 2015:587893. [PMID: 26106414 PMCID: PMC4461777 DOI: 10.1155/2015/587893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated results of temozolomide (TMZ) therapy in six patients, aged 34-78 years, presenting aggressive pituitary tumors. In all the patients tested O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) immunoexpression in surgical specimens was absent. Patients received temozolomide 140-320 mg/day for 5 days monthly for at least 3 months. In two patients minimum time for evaluation could not be reached because of death in a 76-year-old man with a malignant prolactinoma and of severe neutro-thrombopenia in a 47-year-old woman with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. In two patients (a 34-year-old acromegalic woman and a 39-year-old woman with Nelson's syndrome) no response was observed after 4 and 6 months, respectively, and the treatment was stopped. Conversely, two 52- and 42-year-old women with Cushing's disease had long-term total clinical and radiological remissions which persisted after stopping temozolomide. We conclude that TMZ therapy may be of variable efficacy depending on-until now-incompletely understood factors. Cooperative work on a greater number of cases of aggressive pituitary tumors should be crucial to establish the indications, doses, and duration of temozolomide administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar D. Bruno
- Foundation of Endocrinology, 1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- *Oscar D. Bruno:
| | | | | | - Marcos Manavela
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, 1120 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karina Danilowicz
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, 1120 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Vigovich
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, 1120 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Reynaldo M. Gómez
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, 1120 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Chatzellis E, Alexandraki KI, Androulakis II, Kaltsas G. Aggressive pituitary tumors. Neuroendocrinology 2015; 101:87-104. [PMID: 25571935 DOI: 10.1159/000371806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary adenomas are common intracranial tumors that are mainly considered as benign. Rarely, these tumors can exhibit an aggressive behavior, characterized by gross invasion of the surrounding tissues, resistance to conventional treatment leading to early and frequent recurrences. Even more rarely, pituitary tumors can give rise to cerebrospinal or systemic metastases qualifying as pituitary carcinomas according to the latest WHO definition. In the same classification, a subset of tumors with relatively distinct histopathological features was identified and defined as atypical adenomas designated to follow a more aggressive clinical course. This classification, although clinically useful, does not provide an accurate correlation between histopathological findings and the clinical behavior of these tumors, neither is it adequate to convey the precise features of 'aggressive' tumors. Thus, 'aggressive' pituitary adenomas need to be properly defined with clinical, radiological, histological and molecular markers in order to identify patients at increased risk of early recurrence or subsequent tumor progression. At present, no single marker or classification system of pituitary tumor aggressiveness exists, and clinically useful information in the literature is insufficient to guide diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Treatment of patients with aggressive pituitary tumors is challenging since conventional treatments often fail, necessitating multiple surgical procedures with additional radiotherapy. Although traditional chemotherapy applied in other neuroendocrine tumors has not been shown to be efficacious, newer agents, particularly temozolomide, have shown promising results and are currently used despite the lack of data from a randomized prospective trial. Molecular targeted therapies such as mTOR and epidermal growth factor inhibitors have also been applied and might prove to be useful in the management of these patients. In the present review, we provide information regarding the epidemiology and clinical, histopathological and molecular features of aggressive pituitary tumors using recent employed definitions. In addition, we review currently employed therapeutic means providing a therapeutic algorithm and highlight the need to identify more specific disease-related and prognostic markers and the necessity for central registration of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftherios Chatzellis
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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28
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Zacharia BE, Gulati AP, Bruce JN, Carminucci AS, Wardlaw SL, Siegelin M, Remotti H, Lignelli A, Fine RL. High response rates and prolonged survival in patients with corticotroph pituitary tumors and refractory Cushing disease from capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM): a case series. Neurosurgery 2014; 74:E447-55; discussion E455. [PMID: 24226425 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000000251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Rarely, corticotrophic pituitary tumors take on an aggressive form characterized by rapid growth, invasion into local structures, compression of cranial nerves, and possible spread to distant sites. When conventional surgery, radiation therapy, and hormones fail to control progression and symptoms, alternative therapies are needed. A novel chemotherapeutic regimen of capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM), originally designed in our laboratory, demonstrated dramatic antineoplastic effects against corticotrophic pituitary tumors. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We present a case series of 4 patients with aggressive, adrenocorticotrophic hormone--producing pituitary tumors who had previously depleted all surgical, radiation, and hormonal therapies and were then treated with CAPTEM. Dramatic clinical improvements in neurological deficits and Cushing symptoms were evident in all patients after treatment was initiated. Confirmed by radiographic imaging, 2 of 4 patients demonstrated complete regression of disease, 1 patient had a 75% regression, and the fourth patient has ongoing stable disease for > 4.5 years at the time of this writing. Immunohistochemical analysis of patients' tumor samples showed low O-methyguanyl methyltransferase expression and adequate levels of mismatch repair enzymes (MLH-1, MSH-2, MSH-6, and PMS-2), which are important for the in vivo efficacy of CAPTEM. CONCLUSION This is the first report of prolonged antitumor response to and radiographic complete remissions as a result of CAPTEM in patients with aggressive pituitary tumors who had exhausted all other therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad E Zacharia
- *Department of Neurological Surgery, ‡Experimental Therapeutics Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Pancreas Center at Columbia, §Department of Medicine, Neuroendocrine Unit, and ¶Department of Pathology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
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29
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Hirohata T, Ishii Y, Matsuno A. Treatment of pituitary carcinomas and atypical pituitary adenomas: a review. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2014; 54:966-73. [PMID: 25446382 PMCID: PMC4533354 DOI: 10.2176/nmc.ra.2014-0178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical pituitary adenomas (APAs) are aggressive tumors, harboring a Ki-67 (MIB-1) staining index of 3% or more, and positive immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification in 2004. Pituitary carcinomas (PC) usually develop from progressive APAs and predominantly consist of hormone-generating tumors, defined by the presence of disseminations in the cerebrospinal system or systemic metastases. Most of the cases with these malignant pituitary adenomas underwent surgeries, irradiations and adjuvant medical treatments, nevertheless, the therapies are mainly palliative. Recently, the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ), an orally administered alkylating agent, has been reported as an alternative medical treatment. However, some recent studies have demonstrated a significant recurrence rate after effective response to TMZ. Further clinical and pathological researches of malignant pituitary adenomas will be required to improve the outcome of patients with these tumors.
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30
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Ferone D, Pivonello C, Vitale G, Zatelli MC, Colao A, Pivonello R. Molecular basis of pharmacological therapy in Cushing's disease. Endocrine 2014; 46:181-98. [PMID: 24272603 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-013-0098-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Cushing's disease (CD) is a severe endocrine condition caused by an adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-producing pituitary adenoma that chronically stimulates adrenocortical cortisol production and with potentially serious complications if not or inadequately treated. Active CD may produce a fourfold increase in mortality and is associated with significant morbidities. Moreover, excess mortality risk may persist even after CD treatment. Although predictors of risk in treated CD are not fully understood, the importance of early recognition and adequate treatment is well established. Surgery with resection of a pituitary adenoma is still the first line therapy, being successful in about 60-70 % of patients; however, recurrence within 2-4 years may often occur. When surgery fails, medical treatment can reduce cortisol production and ameliorate clinical manifestations while more definitive therapy becomes effective. Compounds that target hypothalamic-pituitary axis, glucocorticoid synthesis or adrenocortical function are currently used to control the deleterious effects of chronic glucocorticoid excess. In this review we describe and analyze the molecular basis of the drugs targeting the disease at central level, suppressing ACTH secretion, as well as at peripheral level, acting as adrenal inhibitors, or glucocorticoid receptor antagonists. Understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in CD and of glucocorticoid biology should promote the development of new targeted and more successful therapies in the future. Indeed, most of the drugs discussed have been tested in limited clinical trials, but there is potential therapeutic benefit in compounds with better specificity for the class of receptors expressed by ACTH-secreting tumors. However, long-term follow-up with management of persistent comorbidities is needed even after successful treatment of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ferone
- Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties & Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy,
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31
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Raverot G, Jouanneau E, Trouillas J. Management of endocrine disease: clinicopathological classification and molecular markers of pituitary tumours for personalized therapeutic strategies. Eur J Endocrinol 2014; 170:R121-32. [PMID: 24431196 DOI: 10.1530/eje-13-1031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary tumours, the most frequent intracranial tumour, are historically considered benign. However, various pieces of clinical evidence and recent advances in pathological and molecular analyses suggest the need to consider these tumours as more than an endocrinological disease, despite the low incidence of metastasis. Recently, we proposed a new prognostic clinicopathological classification of these pituitary tumours, according to the tumour size (micro, macro and giant), type (prolactin, GH, FSH/LH, ACTH and TSH) and grade (grade 1a, non-invasive; 1b, non-invasive and proliferative; 2a, invasive; 2b, invasive and proliferative and 3, metastatic). In addition to this classification, numerous molecular prognostic markers have been identified, allowing a better characterisation of tumour behaviour and prognosis. Moreover, clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that pituitary tumours could be treated by some chemotherapeutic drugs or new targeted therapies. Our improved classification of these tumours should now allow the identification of prognosis markers and help the clinician to propose personalised therapies to selected patients presenting tumours with a high risk of recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Raverot
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Neuro-Oncology and Neuro-Inflammation Team, Lyon F-69372, France
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32
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Hansen TM, Batra S, Lim M, Gallia GL, Burger PC, Salvatori R, Wand G, Quinones-Hinojosa A, Kleinberg L, Redmond KJ. Invasive adenoma and pituitary carcinoma: a SEER database analysis. Neurosurg Rev 2014; 37:279-85; discussion 285-6. [PMID: 24526366 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-014-0525-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Invasive pituitary adenomas and pituitary carcinomas are clinically indistinguishable until identification of metastases. Optimal management and survival outcomes for both are not clearly defined. The purpose of this study is to use the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to report patterns of care and compare survival outcomes in a large series of patients with invasive adenomas or pituitary carcinomas. One hundred seventeen patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2008 with pituitary adenomas/adenocarcinomas were included. Eighty-three invasive adenomas and seven pituitary carcinomas were analyzed for survival outcomes. Analyzed prognostic factors included age, sex, race, histology, tumor extent, and treatment. A significant decrease in survival was observed among carcinomas compared to invasive adenomas at 1, 2, and 5 years (p = 0.047, 0.001, and 0.009). Only non-white race, male gender, and age ≥65 were significant negative prognostic factors for invasive adenomas (p = 0.013, 0.033, and <0.001, respectively). There was no survival advantage to radiation therapy in treating adenomas at 5, 10, 20, or 30 years (p = 0.778, 0.960, 0.236, and 0.971). In conclusion, pituitary carcinoma patients exhibit worse overall survival than invasive adenoma patients. This highlights the need for improved diagnostic methods for the sellar phase to allow for potentially more aggressive treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M Hansen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acromegaly is a rare disease that severely impacts patients' health all the while, being a slowly progressing illness. In the past decades, advancements in treatment modalities, especially development of new drugs, as well as focused guidelines has improved management of acromegaly. Still, many patients are considered not sufficiently treated and there remains an ongoing need for further development. AREAS COVERED This article reviews new medical treatments currently under clinical investigation (such as pasireotide, oral octreotide and somatoprim) and under experimental development (such as octreotide implants, CAM2029 and ATL-1103). EXPERT OPINION As it seems unlikely that one single agent may achieve cure in 100% of cases, there is an urgent need for new agents that help patients where current medication fails. Imperatively, this means we have to improve our understanding of the underlying pathogenetic and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvère Störmann
- Klinikum der Universität München, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV , Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 München , Germany +49 0 89 5160 2111 ; +49 0 89 5160 2194 ;
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34
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Chemotherapy-induced regression of an adrenocorticotropin-secreting pituitary carcinoma accompanied by secondary adrenal insufficiency. Case Rep Endocrinol 2013; 2013:675298. [PMID: 24455332 PMCID: PMC3881387 DOI: 10.1155/2013/675298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose. Adrenocorticotropin- (ACTH-) secreting pituitary carcinomas are rare and require multimodality treatment. The aim of this study was to report the response to various therapies and discuss the potential development of secondary adrenal insufficiency with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Methods. This report describes a man with a large silent corticotroph adenoma progressing to endogenous hypercortisolism and metastatic ACTH-secreting pituitary carcinoma over a period of 14 years. Results. Seven years after initial presentation, progressive tumor enlargement associated with the development of hypercortisolism mandated multiple pituitary tumor debulking procedures and radiotherapy. Testing of the Ki-67 proliferation index was markedly high and he developed a hepatic metastasis. Combination therapy with cisplatin and etoposide resulted in a substantial reduction in tumor size, near-complete regression of his liver metastasis, and dramatic decrease in ACTH secretion. This unexpectedly resulted in symptomatic secondary adrenal insufficiency. Conclusions. This is the first reported case of secondary adrenal insufficiency after use of cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic ACTH-secreting pituitary carcinoma. High proliferative indices may be predictive of dramatic responses to chemotherapy. Given the potential for such responses, the development of secondary adrenal insufficiency may occur and patients should be monitored accordingly.
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35
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Matsuno A, Murakami M, Hoya K, Yamada SM, Miyamoto S, Yamada S, Son JH, Nishido H, Ide F, Nagashima H, Sugaya M, Hirohata T, Mizutani A, Okinaga H, Ishii Y, Tahara S, Teramoto A, Osamura RY. Molecular status of pituitary carcinoma and atypical adenoma that contributes the effectiveness of temozolomide. Med Mol Morphol 2013; 47:1-7. [PMID: 23955641 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-013-0050-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
There have been several reports of temozolomide (TMZ) treatment of pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. O(6)-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase is not the sole molecule determining the sensitivity to TMZ in pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. The Japan Society of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors study suggests that MSH6, one of mismatch repair pathway enzyme, fulfills a contributory role to the efficacy of TMZ treatment for pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. The preserved MSH6 function might be essential for the responsiveness to TMZ treatment in pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Matsuno
- Department of Neurosurgery, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, 3426-3 Anesaki, Ichihara, Chiba, 299-0111, Japan,
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36
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37
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Miller BA, Rutledge WC, Ioachimescu AG, Oyesiku NM. Management of large aggressive nonfunctional pituitary tumors: experimental medical options when surgery and radiation fail. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2013; 23:587-94. [PMID: 23040745 DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2012.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary adenomas are generally considered benign tumors; however, a subset of these tumors displays aggressive behavior and are not easily cured. The protocol for nonsurgical treatment of aggressive pituitary lesions is less standardized than that of other central nervous system tumors. Aggressive surgical treatment, radiation, dopamine agonists, antiangiogenic drugs, and other chemotherapeutics all have roles in the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors. More studies are needed to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive pituitary tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon A Miller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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38
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Hirohata T, Asano K, Ogawa Y, Takano S, Amano K, Isozaki O, Iwai Y, Sakata K, Fukuhara N, Nishioka H, Yamada S, Fujio S, Arita K, Takano K, Tominaga A, Hizuka N, Ikeda H, Osamura RY, Tahara S, Ishii Y, Kawamata T, Shimatsu A, Teramoto A, Matsuno A. DNA mismatch repair protein (MSH6) correlated with the responses of atypical pituitary adenomas and pituitary carcinomas to temozolomide: the national cooperative study by the Japan Society for Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013; 98:1130-6. [PMID: 23365123 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-2924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent and was a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for malignant gliomas. Recently, TMZ has been documented to be effective against atypical pituitary adenomas (APAs) and pituitary carcinomas (PCs). OBJECTIVE The clinical and pathological characteristics of APAs and PCs treated with TMZ in Japan were surveyed and analyzed retrospectively. DESIGN Members of the Japan Society of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors were surveyed regarding the clinical characteristics of APAs and PCs treated with TMZ. Stored tumor samples were gathered from the responders and were assessed by the immunohistochemistry of Ki-67, O(6)-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase, p53, MSH6, and anterior pituitary hormones. Responses to TMZ treatment were defined as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), progressive disease (PD), and stable disease (SD) according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) version 2.0. SUBJECTS Three samples from 3 subjects with APA and 11 samples from 10 subjects with PC were available. RESULTS The 13 subjects had APAs and PCs consisting of 5 prolactin-producing tumors, 5 ACTH-producing tumors, and 3 null cell adenomas. The clinical response to TMZ treatment was as follows: 4 cases of CR and PR (31%), 2 cases of SD (15%), 6 cases of recurrence after CR and PR (46%), and 1 case of PD (8%). However, considerable subjects had recurrent disease after a response to TMZ. The immunohistochemical findings of Ki-67, O(6)-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase, and p53 did not show any significant correlation with the efficacy of TMZ. However, the immunopositivity of MSH6 was positively correlated with TMZ response (P = .015, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that preserving MSH6 function was contributory to the effectiveness of TMZ in malignant pituitary neoplasms. It is necessary to survey more cases and evaluate multifactor analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Hirohata
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
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39
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A case of nonfunctioning pituitary carcinoma that responded to temozolomide treatment. Case Rep Endocrinol 2012; 2012:645914. [PMID: 23091742 PMCID: PMC3472534 DOI: 10.1155/2012/645914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 09/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary carcinoma is a rare malignancy and is difficult to manage. Pituitary carcinomas commonly produce either PRL or ACTH, but some do not produce pituitary hormones. The alkylating reagent temozolomide (TMZ) was recently shown to be effective as a treatment for pituitary carcinoma. Most of the published reports of TMZ use in pituitary carcinoma cases were against hormone-producing carcinomas. Only a few patients with a nonfunctioning pituitary carcinoma treated with TMZ have been reported. Here we describe our treatment of a patient with nonfunctioning pituitary carcinoma and a background of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. The pituitary carcinoma was accompanied by meningeal dissemination with cerebral and L1 spinal bone metastasis. The patient received continuous dosing of TMZ along with external radiation, followed by standard dosing of TMZ. There was an apparent antitumor response seen in MRI. MGMT, an enzyme antagonized by TMZ, was negative in the tumor. The therapeutic efficacy of TMZ and dosing schedules of TMZ in pituitary carcinoma are discussed.
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40
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Oh MC, Tihan T, Kunwar S, Blevins L, Aghi MK. Clinical Management of Pituitary Carcinomas. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2012; 23:595-606. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2012.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Annamalai AK, Dean AF, Kandasamy N, Kovacs K, Burton H, Halsall DJ, Shaw AS, Antoun NM, Cheow HK, Kirollos RW, Pickard JD, Simpson HL, Jefferies SJ, Burnet NG, Gurnell M. Temozolomide responsiveness in aggressive corticotroph tumours: a case report and review of the literature. Pituitary 2012; 15:276-87. [PMID: 22076588 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-011-0363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinoma occurs in ~0.2% of resected pituitary tumours and carries a poor prognosis (mean survival <4 years), with standard chemotherapy regimens showing limited efficacy. Recent evidence suggests that temozolomide (TMZ), an orally-active alkylating agent used principally in the management of glioblastoma, may also be effective in controlling aggressive/invasive pituitary adenomas/carcinomas. A low level of expression of the DNA-repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) predicts TMZ responsiveness in glioblastomas, and a similar correlation has been observed in the majority of aggressive pituitary adenomas/carcinomas reported to date. Here, we report a case of a silent pituitary corticotroph adenoma, which subsequently re-presented with Cushing's syndrome due to functioning hepatic metastases. The tumour exhibited low immunohistochemical MGMT expression in both primary (pituitary) and secondary (hepatic) lesions. Initial TMZ therapy (200 mg/m² for 5 days every 28 days-seven cycles) resulted in marked clinical, biochemical [>50% fall in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)] and radiological [partial RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors) response] improvements. The patient then underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. However, despite reintroduction of TMZ therapy (further eight cycles) ACTH levels plateaued and no further radiological regression was observed. We review the existing literature reporting TMZ efficacy in pituitary corticotroph tumours, and highlight the pointers/lessons for treating aggressive pituitary neoplasia that can be drawn from experience of susceptibility and evolving resistance to TMZ therapy in glioblastoma. Possible strategies for mitigating resistance developing during TMZ treatment of pituitary adenomas/carcinomas are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Annamalai
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
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Tatar Z, Thivat E, Planchat E, Gimbergues P, Gadea E, Abrial C, Durando X. Temozolomide and unusual indications: review of literature. Cancer Treat Rev 2012; 39:125-35. [PMID: 22818211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2012.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) was first known to be useful as a radiosensitiser in both primary brain tumours like glioblastoma multiforme and oligodendroglioma. Later, TMZ proved its efficacy in the treatment of melanoma. Multiple publications have demonstrated the benefit of TMZ in terms of efficacy and tolerance (used as mono-therapy or as adjuvant chemotherapy) compared to the "gold standard" treatment of this kind of tumours. Furthermore, several recent clinical trials have shown the particular importance of TMZ in other types of cancer. This publication deals with the use of TMZ in cancers which are not formal indications for TMZ (excluding glioblastoma multiforme, oligodendroglioma and melanoma). It also includes a necessary review of recent literature about the role of TMZ in the treatment of brain metastases, lymphomas, refractory leukaemia, neuroendocrine tumours, pituitary tumours, Ewing's sarcoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumours, lung cancer and other tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Tatar
- Oncology Department, Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand F-63011, France.
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43
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Whitelaw BC, Dworakowska D, Thomas NW, Barazi S, Riordan-Eva P, King AP, Hampton T, Landau DB, Lipscomb D, Buchanan CR, Gilbert JA, Aylwin SJB. Temozolomide in the management of dopamine agonist-resistant prolactinomas. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2012; 76:877-86. [PMID: 22372583 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04373.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of prolactinomas respond to dopamine agonist therapy, but a proportion are resistant, requiring other treatments including surgery and/or radiotherapy. Temozolomide is an oral chemotherapy agent, which has been used as a salvage therapy to treat aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas, including prolactinomas, unresponsive to all conventional treatment. CASE SERIES We report three patients where temozolomide was used in the treatment of refractory prolactinomas. Case 1 describes a patient with a highly invasive prolactinoma, resistant to all conventional therapy, which responded dramatically to temozolomide used as a salvage treatment. In case 2, temozolomide was used after incomplete surgical resection to relieve chiasmal compression and avoid chiasm exposure to radiotherapy. In case 3, temozolomide enabled radiotherapy to be deferred in a 16-year old with a resistant prolactinoma. In all three cases, the tumours were negative by immunostaining for methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT). LITERATURE REVIEW AND DISCUSSION A review of the published literature reveals 51 reported cases of temozolomide treatment for pituitary tumours, including 20 prolactinomas. Fifteen of the 20 prolactinomas showed a good response to temozolomide. Our analysis demonstrates a strong association between MGMT-negative staining and a good response to temozolomide (OR 9.35, P = 0.0030). Current clinical practice is to use temozolomide as a salvage therapy after all conventional modalities of treatment have failed. We suggest that, in selected cases, consideration should be given to using temozolomide earlier in the treatment algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Whitelaw
- Department of Endocrinology, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
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Raverot G, Castinetti F, Jouanneau E, Morange I, Figarella-Branger D, Dufour H, Trouillas J, Brue T. Pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours: merits and pitfalls of temozolomide treatment. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2012; 76:769-75. [PMID: 22404748 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04381.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinomas are rare, accounting for about 0.2% of all pituitary tumours. They represent a challenge to clinical practice in both diagnosis and treatment. They may present initially as typical pituitary adenomas, with a delayed appearance of aggressive signs, or as aggressive tumours from the outset. Predicting the pituitary tumour behaviour remains difficult: increased mitotic, Ki-67 and P53 indices might be associated with tumour aggression. The treatment of pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours includes surgery, adjuvant medical treatment, external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Until recently, the treatment of pituitary carcinomas was mainly palliative and did not seem to increase overall survival. Recent case reports have detailed the successful use of temozolomide, an orally administered alkylating agent used to treat malignant gliomas, in the management of pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours. The outcome of treatment might depend on the expression of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme that potentially interferes with drug efficacy. This review describes the clinical presentation and response to temozolomide in 44 patients with pituitary carcinomas or aggressive pituitary tumours reported in the literature. The results suggest that temozolomide should be considered a drug of major importance in the therapeutic algorithm of aggressive pituitary tumours and pituitary carcinomas. Because of the inconsistency of published data, MGMT expression should probably not be taken as a reason to deny these patients the potential benefit of temozolomide treatment, taking into account the paucity of other available treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gérald Raverot
- INSERM, U1028, Faculté de Médecine Lyon-Est, Université de Lyon, Lyon1, France
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Ortiz LD, Syro LV, Scheithauer BW, Rotondo F, Uribe H, Fadul CE, Horvath E, Kovacs K. Temozolomide in aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2012; 67 Suppl 1:119-23. [PMID: 22584716 PMCID: PMC3328813 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2012(sup01)20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of gliomas and, more recently, aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Temozolomide methylates DNA and, thereby, has antitumor effects. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair enzyme, removes the alkylating adducts that are induced by temozolomide, thereby counteracting its effects. A Medline search for all of the available publications regarding the use of temozolomide for the treatment of pituitary tumors was performed. To date, 46 cases of adenohypophysial tumors that were treated with temozolomide, including 30 adenomas and 16 carcinomas, have been reported. Eighteen of the 30 (60%) adenomas and 11 of the 16 (69%) carcinomas responded favorably to treatment. One patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and an aggressive prolactin-producing adenoma was also treated and demonstrated a good response. No significant complications have been attributed to temozolomide therapy. Thus, temozolomide is an effective treatment for the majority of aggressive adenomas and carcinomas. Evidence indicates that there is an inverse correlation between levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression and therapeutic response. Alternatively, high-level O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression correlates with an unfavorable response. Here, we review the use of temozolomide for treating pituitary neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon D Ortiz
- Division of Neuro-oncology, Clinica Las Americas, Instituto de Cancerologia, Medellin, Colombia
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46
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Abstract
Prolactinomas, the most prevalent type of neuroendocrine disease, account for approximately 40% of all pituitary adenomas. The most important clinical problems associated with prolactinomas are hypogonadism, infertility and hyposexuality. In patients with macroprolactinomas, mass effects, including visual field defects, headaches and neurological disturbances, can also occur. The objectives of therapy are normalization of prolactin levels, to restore eugonadism, and reduction of tumor mass, both of which can be achieved in the majority of patients by treatment with dopamine agonists. Given their association with minimal morbidity, these drugs currently represent the mainstay of treatment for prolactinomas. Novel data indicate that these agents can be successfully withdrawn in a subset of patients after normalization of prolactin levels and tumor disappearance, which suggests the possibility that medical therapy may not be required throughout life. Nevertheless, multimodal therapy that involves surgery, radiotherapy or both may be necessary in some cases, such as patients who are resistant to the effects of dopamine agonists or for those with atypical prolactinomas. This Review reports on efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in patients with prolactinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Colao
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy, Via Sergio Pansini 5, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
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Dillard TH, Gultekin SH, Delashaw JB, Yedinak CG, Neuwelt EA, Fleseriu M. Temozolomide for corticotroph pituitary adenomas refractory to standard therapy. Pituitary 2011; 14:80-91. [PMID: 20972839 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-010-0264-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
To highlight the potential of temozolomide (TMZ) to induce rapid tumor regression in patients with aggressive corticotroph adenomas (CA) that are refractory to surgery and radiation therapy and to review use of TMZ in other pituitary tumors. We present a case of a 56-year-old male with a 3 cm CA treated with transphenoidal surgery (TSS) and conventional radiotherapy in the same year. His hypercortisolemia recurred 11 years later with rapid tumor growth (to 4.2 × 2.5 cm) and he underwent a second TSS with good resection. The tumor recurred 6 months later with ophthalmoplegia. Over 16 months he underwent an additional three surgeries (two TSS, one craniotomy) and repeated conventional radiotherapy. Ki67 staining index on surgical specimens was 5-6%. Temozolomide is an oral alkylating agent approved for glioblastoma multiforme treatment that has only recently shown promise in treating some pituitary tumors. In this patient TMZ was started at 150 mg/m²/day, titrated to 200 mg/m²/day, taken 5 days per month. The only significant side effect was moderate nausea. After 10 weeks, the tumor showed a remarkable 60% regression with objective improvement in ophthalmoplegia. Treatment of aggressive CAs represents a therapeutic challenge and in some cases surgical debulking and radiotherapy are of limited success. Few reports of CAs responsive to TMZ have been reported in the literature. To our knowledge, this case represents the most rapid robust CA shrinkage response reported to date. Further randomized clinical trials of TMZ in the treatment of aggressive pituitary adenomas are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy H Dillard
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Bush ZM, Longtine JA, Cunningham T, Schiff D, Jane JA, Vance ML, Thorner MO, Laws ER, Lopes MBS. Temozolomide treatment for aggressive pituitary tumors: correlation of clinical outcome with O(6)-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and expression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010; 95:E280-90. [PMID: 20668043 PMCID: PMC5393383 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The typically indolent behavior of pituitary tumors is juxtaposed with high rates of tumor cell invasion into adjacent dural structures, and occasional aggressive behavior. Although clinically significant invasion and malignant transformation remain uncommon, there are limited treatment options available for the management of these aggressive tumors. Recently, case reports have described efficacy of temozolomide for the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors. DESIGN Seven patients with aggressive pituitary tumors have been treated with temozolomide. We compared O(6)-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and MGMT expression in 14 surgical specimens from these seven patients and correlated these molecular features with the clinical response to temozolomide. RESULTS Significant tumor regression was seen in two patients (29%), a 20% reduction in tumor volume with subsequent stable tumor size was noted in one patient, arrest of tumor growth occurred in three patients, and progressive metastatic disease developed during treatment in one patient. The DNA promoter site for MGMT was unmethylated in all 14 adequate specimens, and variable MGMT expression was seen in all 14 cases. There was no correlation between MGMT expression and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that medical therapy with temozolomide can be helpful in the management of life-threatening pituitary tumors that have failed to respond to conventional treatments. The optimal duration of treatment in patients with stabilization or reduction of tumor size has not been established, and long-term follow up studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Bush
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0214, USA
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