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Targeted Therapy for Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Genomic-Based Search for Available and Emerging Options. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112721. [PMID: 35681700 PMCID: PMC9179357 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In rare diseases such as adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), in silico analysis can help select promising therapy options. We screened all drugs approved by the FDA and those in current clinical studies to identify drugs that target genomic alterations, also known to be present in patients with ACC. We identified FDA-approved drugs in the My Cancer Genome and National Cancer Institute databases and identified genetic alterations that could predict drug response. In total, 155 FDA-approved drugs and 905 drugs in clinical trials were identified and linked to 375 genes of 89 TCGA patients. The most frequent potentially targetable genetic alterations included TP53 (20%), BRD9 (13%), TERT (13%), CTNNB1 (13%), CDK4 (7%), FLT4 (7%), and MDM2 (7%). We identified TP53-modulating drugs to be possibly effective in 20-26% of patients, followed by the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors (15%), Telomelysin and INO5401 (13%), FHD-609 (13%), etc. According to our data, 67% of ACC patients exhibited genomic alterations that might be targeted by FDA-approved drugs or drugs being tested in current clinical trials. Although there are not many current therapy options directly targeting reported ACC alterations, this study identifies emerging options that could be tested in clinical trials.
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Riedmeier M, Decarolis B, Haubitz I, Müller S, Uttinger K, Börner K, Reibetanz J, Wiegering A, Härtel C, Schlegel PG, Fassnacht M, Wiegering V. Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Childhood: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5266. [PMID: 34771430 PMCID: PMC8582500 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215266] [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: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical tumors are rare in children. This systematic review summarizes the published evidence on pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to provide a basis for a better understanding of the disease, investigate new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and define which patients may benefit from a more aggressive therapeutic approach. We included 137 studies with 3680 ACC patients (~65% female) in our analysis. We found no randomized controlled trials, so this review mainly reflects retrospective data. Due to a specific mutation in the TP53 gene in ~80% of Brazilian patients, that cohort was analyzed separately from series from other countries. Hormone analysis was described in 2569 of the 2874 patients (89%). Most patients were diagnosed with localized disease, whereas 23% had metastasis at primary diagnosis. Only 72% of the patients achieved complete resection. In 334 children (23%), recurrent disease was reported: 81%-local recurrence, 19% (n = 65)-distant metastases at relapse. Patients < 4 years old had a different distribution of tumor stages and hormone activity and better overall survival (p < 0.001). Although therapeutic approaches are typically multimodal, no consensus is available on effective standard treatments for advanced ACC. Thus, knowledge regarding pediatric ACC is still scarce and international prospective studies are needed to implement standardized clinical stratifications and risk-adapted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Riedmeier
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (M.R.); (I.H.); (C.H.); (P.-G.S.)
| | - Boris Decarolis
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Medical Faculty, University Children’s Hospital of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Imme Haubitz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (M.R.); (I.H.); (C.H.); (P.-G.S.)
| | - Sophie Müller
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.U.); (K.B.); (J.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Konstantin Uttinger
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.U.); (K.B.); (J.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Kevin Börner
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.U.); (K.B.); (J.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Joachim Reibetanz
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.U.); (K.B.); (J.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Armin Wiegering
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (S.M.); (K.U.); (K.B.); (J.R.); (A.W.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, University of Wuerzburg Medical Centre, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany;
| | - Christoph Härtel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (M.R.); (I.H.); (C.H.); (P.-G.S.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, University of Wuerzburg Medical Centre, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany;
| | - Paul-Gerhardt Schlegel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (M.R.); (I.H.); (C.H.); (P.-G.S.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, University of Wuerzburg Medical Centre, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany;
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, University of Wuerzburg Medical Centre, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany;
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacherstr. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Verena Wiegering
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (M.R.); (I.H.); (C.H.); (P.-G.S.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, University of Wuerzburg Medical Centre, Josef-Schneiderstr. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany;
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Kiesewetter B, Riss P, Scheuba C, Mazal P, Kretschmer-Chott E, Haug A, Raderer M. Management of adrenocortical carcinoma: are we making progress? Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211038409. [PMID: 34484430 PMCID: PMC8411624 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211038409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy characterized by aggressive
biology and potential endocrine activity. Surgery can offer cure for localized
disease but more than half of patients relapse and primary unresectable or
metastasized disease is frequent. Prognosis of metastatic ACC is still limited,
with less than 15% of patients alive at 5 years. Recent advances in
understanding the molecular profile of ACC underline the high complexity of this
disease, which is characterized by limited drugable molecular targets as well as
by a complex interplay between a yet scarcely understood microenvironment and
potential endocrine activity. Particularly steroid-excess further complicates
therapeutic concepts such as immunotherapy, which have markedly improved outcome
in other disease entities. To date, mitotane remains the only approved drug for
adjuvant and palliative care in ACC. Standard chemotherapy-based protocols with
cisplatin, doxorubicin and etoposide offer only marginal improvement in
long-term outcome and the number of clinical trials conducted is low due to the
rarity of the disease. In the current review, we summarize principles of
oncological management for ACC from localized to advanced disease and discuss
novel therapeutic strategies, including targeted therapies such as tyrosine
kinase inhibitors and antibodies, immunotherapy with a focus on checkpoint
inhibitors, individualized treatment concepts based on molecular
characterization by next generation sequencing methods, the role of theranostics
and evolvement of adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kiesewetter
- Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - Philipp Riss
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Scheuba
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Mazal
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alexander Haug
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Raderer
- Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Georgantzoglou N, Kokkali S, Tsourouflis G, Theocharis S. Tumor Microenvironment in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Barrier to Immunotherapy Success? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1798. [PMID: 33918733 PMCID: PMC8069982 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with aggressive behavior, with up to 40% of patients presenting with metastases at the time of diagnosis. Both conventional chemotherapeutic regimens and novel immunotherapeutic agents, many of which are currently being tested in ongoing clinical trials, have yielded modest results so far, bringing the need for a deeper understanding of adrenal cancer behavior to the forefront. In the recent years, the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a major determinant of cancer response to immunotherapy and an increasing number of studies on other solid tumors have focused on manipulating the microenvironment in the favor of the host and discovering new potential target molecules. In the present review we aim to explore the characteristics of adrenocortical cancer's microenvironment, highlighting the mechanisms of immune evasion responsible for the modest immunotherapeutic results, and identify novel potential strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Georgantzoglou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
| | - Stefania Kokkali
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
- First Medical Oncology Clinic, Saint-Savvas Anti Cancer Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Tsourouflis
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
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Karwacka I, Obołończyk Ł, Kaniuka-Jakubowska S, Sworczak K. The Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020098. [PMID: 33498467 PMCID: PMC7909536 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare epithelial neoplasm, with a high tendency for local invasion and distant metastases, with limited treatment options. Surgical treatment is the method of choice. For decades, the mainstay of pharmacological treatment has been the adrenolytic drug mitotane, in combination with chemotherapy. Immunotherapy is the latest revolution in cancer therapy, however preliminary data with single immune checkpoint inhibitors showed a modest activity in ACC patients. The anti-neoplastic activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen 4 (anti-CTLA-4), anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1), and anti-PD-ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibodies in different solid tumors has aroused interest to explore the potential therapeutic effect in ACC as well. Multiple ongoing clinical trials are currently evaluating the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ACC (pembrolizumab, combination pembrolizumab and relacorilant, nivolumab, combination nivolumab and ipilimumab). The primary and acquired resistance to immunotherapy continue to counter treatment efficacy. Therefore, attempts are made to combine therapy: anti-PD-1 antibody and anti-CTLA-4 antibody, anti-PD-1 antibody and antagonist of the glucocorticoid receptor. The inhibitors of immune checkpoints would benefit patients with antitumor immunity activated by radiotherapy. Immunotherapy is well tolerated by patients; the most frequently observed side effects are mild. The most common adverse effects of immunotherapy are skin and gastrointestinal disorders. The most common endocrinopathy during anti-CTLA treatment is pituitary inflammation and thyroid disorders.
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Ettaieb M, Kerkhofs T, van Engeland M, Haak H. Past, Present and Future of Epigenetics in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051218. [PMID: 32414074 PMCID: PMC7281315 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation profiling has been suggested a reliable technique to distinguish between benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors, a process which with current diagnostic methods remains challenging and lacks diagnostic accuracy of borderline tumors. Accurate distinction between benign and malignant adrenal tumors is of the essence, since ACC is a rare but aggressive endocrine disease with an annual incidence of about 2.0 cases per million people per year. The estimated five-year overall survival rate for ACC patients is <50%. However, available treatment regimens are limited, in which a radical surgical resection is the only curable option. Nevertheless, up to 85% of patients with radical resection show recurrence of the local disease often with concurrent metastases. Adrenolytic therapy with mitotane, administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic agents, is currently the primary (palliative) treatment for patients with advanced ACC and is increasingly used in adjuvant setting to prevent recurrence. Prognostic stratification is important in order to individualize adjuvant therapies. On April 1, 2020, there were 7404 publications on adrenocortical carcinoma (adrenocortical carcinoma) OR adrenocortical carcinoma [MeSH Terms]) OR adrenal cortex cancer[MeSH Terms]) OR adrenal cortical carcinoma [MeSH Terms]) OR adrenal cortex neoplasm [MeSH Terms]) OR adrenocortical cancer [MeSH Terms]), yet the underlying pathophysiology and characteristics of ACC is not fully understood. Knowledge on epigenetic alterations in the process of adrenal tumorigenesis is rapidly increasing and will add to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ACC. DNA methylation profiling has been heralded as a promising method in the prognostication of ACC. This review summarizes recent findings on epigenetics of ACC and its role in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Ettaieb
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Maxima Medical Center, 5631 Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas Kerkhofs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Manon van Engeland
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Harm Haak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Maxima Medical Center, 5631 Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Carneiro BA, Konda B, Costa RB, Costa RLB, Sagar V, Gursel DB, Kirschner LS, Chae YK, Abdulkadir SA, Rademaker A, Mahalingam D, Shah MH, Giles FJ. Nivolumab in Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Results of a Phase 2 Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019; 104:6193-6200. [PMID: 31276163 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2019-00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Systemic treatment of metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remains limited to chemotherapy and mitotane. Preliminary evidence suggesting that antitumor immune responses can be elicited in ACC has fostered interest in checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 nivolumab. OBJECTIVE The primary endpoint was objective response rate according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety. DESIGN Single-arm, multicenter, phase 2 clinical trial with two-stage design. SETTING Comprehensive cancer center. PATIENTS Ten adult patients with metastatic ACC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and/or mitotane as well as patients who declined front-line chemotherapy. INTERVENTION Nivolumab (240 mg) IV every 2 weeks. RESULTS Ten patients with metastatic ACC were enrolled between March and December 2016. The median number of doses of nivolumab administered was two. Three patients only received one treatment [one died of disease progression, one discontinued due to adverse events (AEs), one withdrew after beginning treatment]. The median PFS was 1.8 months. The median follow-up was 4.5 months (range, 0.1 to 25.6 months). Two patients had stable disease for a duration of 48 and 11 weeks, respectively. One patient had an unconfirmed partial response but discontinued the study due to an AE. Most AEs were grade 1/2. The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs were aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase elevations, mucositis, and odynophagia. CONCLUSION Nivolumab demonstrated modest antitumor activity in patients with advanced ACC. The nivolumab safety profile was consistent with previous clinical experience without any unexpected AEs in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedito A Carneiro
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Bhavana Konda
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rubens B Costa
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ricardo L B Costa
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Vinay Sagar
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Demirkan B Gursel
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Young Kwang Chae
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sarki A Abdulkadir
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Alfred Rademaker
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Devalingam Mahalingam
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Manisha H Shah
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Francis J Giles
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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Pereira SS, Monteiro MP, Costa MM, Moreira Â, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Jarak I, Pignatelli D. IGF2 role in adrenocortical carcinoma biology. Endocrine 2019; 66:326-337. [PMID: 31378849 PMCID: PMC6838304 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-02033-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Clinical outcomes of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) could be improved by using novel treatment targets based on the recent advances of tumor biology knowledge. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) protein expression is usually 8-80 fold higher in ACC when compared to normal adrenal glands (N-AG) or adrenocortical adenomas (ACA), despite the fact that the biological features of high vs. low IGF2 expressing ACC have not yet been well characterized. Our goal was to understand the IGF2 role in ACC biology by focusing in several cancer hallmarks, including cell proliferation, viability, invasion, and metabolism. METHODS IGF2 immunohistochemistry expression was evaluated in ACC (n = 13), non-functioning adrenocortical adenoma (ACAn) (n = 14), and N-AG (n = 9). The effects of IGF2 (50, 100 ng/mL) in cell proliferation, viability, invasion, and metabolism, as well as in MAPK/ERK and mTOR pathways activation and N-cadherin expression, were evaluated in the ACC human cell line H295R. RESULTS IGF2 expression was increased in ACC compared to ACAn and N-AG. Exposure to 100 ng/mL of IGF2 increased H295R cell proliferation and viability. mTOR inhibition reverted IGF2 triggered cell proliferation and viability while MEK/MAPK/ERK inhibition only reverted IGF2 effects on cell proliferation. IGF2 at a 50 ng/mL concentration increased the glycolytic flux and decreased glutamine consumption. CONCLUSIONS IGF2 is an excellent marker to differentiate ACC from ACAn. In addition, IGF2 was demonstrated to influence adrenocortical cancer cell proliferation, metabolism, and viability, but not the cell invasion. These data support that different IGF2 concentrations in ACC can be responsible for different biological behaviors of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia S Pereira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana P Monteiro
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalena M Costa
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela Moreira
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marco G Alves
- Biology and Genetics of Reproduction, Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Pedro F Oliveira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ivana Jarak
- Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Duarte Pignatelli
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital S.João, Porto, Portugal.
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9
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De Martino MC, Feelders RA, Pivonello C, Simeoli C, Papa F, Colao A, Pivonello R, Hofland LJ. The role of mTOR pathway as target for treatment in adrenocortical cancer. Endocr Connect 2019; 8:R144-R156. [PMID: 31398711 PMCID: PMC6733361 DOI: 10.1530/ec-19-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare tumors with scant treatment options for which new treatments are required. The mTOR pathway mediates the intracellular signals of several growth factors, including the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and therefore represents a potential attractive pathway for the treatment of several malignancies including ACCs. Several mTOR inhibitors, including sirolimus, temsirolimus and everolimus, have been clinically developed. This review summarizes the results of the studies evaluating the expression of the mTOR pathway components in ACCs, the effects of the mTOR inhibitors alone or in combination with other drugs in preclinical models of ACCs and the early experience with the use of these compounds in the clinical setting. The mTOR pathway seems a potential target for treatment of patients with ACC, but further investigation is still required to define the potential role of mTOR inhibitors alone or in combination with other drugs in the treatment of ACC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina De Martino
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Richard A Feelders
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Simeoli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Fortuna Papa
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Leo J Hofland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
The diagnosis of low-grade adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) confined to the adrenal gland can be challenging. Although there are diagnostic and prognostic molecular tests for ACC, they remain largely unutilized. We examined the diagnostic and prognostic value of altered reticulin framework and the immunoprofile of biomarkers including IGF-2, proteins involved in cell proliferation and mitotic spindle regulation (Ki67, p53, BUB1B, HURP, NEK2), DNA damage repair (PBK, γ-H2AX), telomere regulation (DAX, ATRX), wnt-signaling pathway (beta-catenin) and PI3K signaling pathway (PTEN, phospho-mTOR) in a tissue microarray of 50 adenomas and 43 carcinomas that were characterized for angioinvasion as defined by strict criteria, Weiss score, and mitotic rate-based tumor grade. IGF-2 and proteins involved in cell proliferation and mitotic spindle regulation (Ki67, p53, BUB1B, HURP, NEK2), DNA damage proteins (PBK, γ-H2AX), regulators of telomeres (DAXX, ATRX), and beta-catenin revealed characteristic expression profiles enabling the distinction of carcinomas from adenomas. Not all biomarkers were informative in all carcinomas. IGF-2 was the most useful biomarker of malignancy irrespective of tumor grade and cytomorphologic features, as juxtanuclear Golgi-pattern IGF-2 reactivity optimized for high specificity was identified in up to 80% of carcinomas and in no adenomas. Loss rather than qualitative alterations of the reticulin framework yielded statistical difference between carcinoma and adenoma. Angioinvasion defined as tumor cells invading through a vessel wall and intravascular tumor cells admixed with thrombus proved to be the best prognostic parameter, predicting adverse outcome in the entire cohort as well as within low-grade ACCs. Low mitotic tumor grade, Weiss score, global loss of DAXX expression, and high phospho-mTOR expression correlated with disease-free survival, but Weiss score and biomarkers failed to predict adverse outcome in low-grade disease. Our results underscore the importance of careful morphologic assessment coupled with ancillary diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ACC.
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11
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Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis. It has undergone in-depth clinical and laboratory investigations, with the help of the most important research groups all over the world. Nonetheless the cure for this kind of neoplasia is not right around the corner, given its complexity and multi-faceted feature, that lead researchers to think at "one person one ACC." Currently total resection is the most concrete option for ACC patients, whenever possible. Mitotane remains the main drug for primary or adjuvant therapy, but gives partial and unsatisfactory therapeutic results, especially in metastatic ACC. This prompted the researchers to find other ways to fight against this malignancy: targeted therapy seems the most promising answer, as it is based on biomolecular and genetic cancer signature. Numerous specific targets were explored for the treatment of ACC, such as those involving angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, Wnt/β-catenin pathway and many others key factors. Even if large efforts have been made, no effective target therapy entered in the clinical use. This data should not be considered only as detrimental, rather it should propel scientific research to invest more resources into the therapeutic exploration of ACC and in particular on the most promising strategy, the targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Manso
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Raffaele Pezzani
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy - .,Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Oncologica di Base (AIROB), Padua, Italy
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12
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Silveira E, Cavalcante IP, Kremer JL, de Mendonça POR, Lotfi CFP. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib is more efficient than mitotane in decreasing cell viability in spheroids prepared from adrenocortical carcinoma cells. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:29. [PMID: 29507530 PMCID: PMC5831608 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0527-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background New drugs for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are needed because most patients undergo rapid disease progression despite surgery and adjuvant therapy with mitotane. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of different chemotherapy drugs, alone or combined with mitotane, on the viability of adrenocortical carcinoma cells. Methods Everolimus, sunitinib, zoledronic acid, imatinib and nilotinib cytotoxicity, alone or combined with mitotane were tested on ACC H295R cells in monolayer or spheroid cultures using MTS assays and confocal microscopy. Moreover, the nilotinib effects were investigated in spheroids cultured from patient tumor-derived ACC-T36 cells. Results Morphological characterization of H295R cell spheroids using histochemistry was performed and showed that dense, homogenously sized, multicellular spheroids were obtained. We observed that sunitinib and nilotinib alone were equally effective in a monolayer preparation, whereas mitotane was the most effective even at a low dose. A combination of sunitinib and mitotane was the most effective treatment, with only 23.8% of cells in the monolayer remaining viable. Spheroid preparations showed resistance to different drugs, although the poor effect produced by mitotane alone was surprising, with a cell viability of 84.6% in comparison with 13.1% in monolayer cells. The most ineffective drugs in spheroid preparations were everolimus, zoledronic acid and imatinib. In both cell types, nilotinib, either alone or in combination with mitotane induced more significant cell viability inhibition in monolayer and spheroid preparations. In addition, the mechanism of nilotinib activity involves the ERK1/2 pathway. Conclusion Taken together, our data identified nilotinib as a cytotoxic drug that combined with ERK inhibitors deserves to be tested as a novel therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Silveira
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Isadora Pontes Cavalcante
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Jean Lucas Kremer
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
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13
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Costa R, Carneiro BA, Tavora F, Pai SG, Kaplan JB, Chae YK, Chandra S, Kopp PA, Giles FJ. The challenge of developmental therapeutics for adrenocortical carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:46734-46749. [PMID: 27102148 PMCID: PMC5216833 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of only 0.7 new cases per million per year. Approximately 30-70% of the patients present with advanced disease with very poor prognosis and without effective therapeutic options. In the recent years, unprecedented progresses in cancer biology and genomics have fostered the development of numerous targeted therapies for various malignancies. Immunotherapy has also transformed the treatment landscape of malignancies such as melanoma, among others. However, these advances have not brought meaningful benefits for patients with ACC. Extensive genomic analyses of ACC have revealed numerous signal transduction pathway aberrations (e.g., insulin growth factor receptor and Wnt/β-catenin pathways) that play a central role in pathophysiology. These molecular alterations have been explored as potential therapeutic targets for drug development. This manuscript summarizes recent discoveries in ACC biology, reviews the results of early clinical studies with targeted therapies, and provides the rationale for emerging treatment strategies such as immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Costa
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Benedito A Carneiro
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fabio Tavora
- Department of Pathology, Messejana Heart and Lung Hospital, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Sachin G Pai
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jason B Kaplan
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Young Kwang Chae
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sunandana Chandra
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Peter A Kopp
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Francis J Giles
- Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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14
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Payabyab EC, Balasubramaniam S, Edgerly M, Velarde M, Merino MJ, Venkatesan AM, Leuva H, Litman T, Bates SE, Fojo T. Adrenocortical Cancer: A Molecularly Complex Disease Where Surgery Matters. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 22:4989-5000. [PMID: 27742785 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of new therapies has lagged behind for rare cancers without defined therapeutic targets. Adrenocortical cancer is no exception. Mitotane, an older agent considered "adrenolytic," is used both to control symptoms in advanced disease and as adjuvant therapy after surgical resection. Molecular characterization of adrenocortical cancer has deepened our understanding of this genetically complex disease while identifying subgroups whose importance remains to be determined. Unfortunately, such studies have yet to demonstrate a therapeutic target for drug development, and to date, no targeted therapy has achieved meaningful outcomes. Consequently, first-line therapy for metastatic disease remains a combination regimen of etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatinum established in a randomized clinical trial. In addition to evaluating recent studies in adrenocortical cancer, we raise one critical clinical issue-the risk of peritoneal dissemination following laparoscopic resection of adrenocortical cancer. In a retrospective case series of 267 patients referred to the NCI for the treatment of recurrent or advanced adrenocortical cancer, we found extensive peritoneal dissemination in 25 of the 45 patients (55.6%) who had undergone laparoscopic resection, compared with only 7 of the 222 patients (3%) who had undergone an open resection (P < 0.0001). Although this has been debated in the literature, our data argue for an end to laparoscopic resection of adrenocortical cancers to avoid peritoneal dissemination, a complication of laparoscopy that is uniformly fatal. Clin Cancer Res; 22(20); 4989-5000. ©2016 AACR SEE ALL ARTICLES IN THIS CCR FOCUS SECTION, "ENDOCRINE CANCERS REVISING PARADIGMS".
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden C Payabyab
- Surgery Branch and Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sanjeeve Balasubramaniam
- Division of Oncology Products 1, OHOP, CDER, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Maureen Edgerly
- Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Margarita Velarde
- Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maria J Merino
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Aradhana M Venkatesan
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Harshraj Leuva
- James J. Peters Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Thomas Litman
- Medical Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan E Bates
- James J. Peters Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bronx, New York. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Tito Fojo
- James J. Peters Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bronx, New York. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
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15
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Fiorentini C, Fragni M, Tiberio GAM, Galli D, Roca E, Salvi V, Bosisio D, Missale C, Terzolo M, Memo M, Berruti A, Sigala S. Palbociclib inhibits proliferation of human adrenocortical tumor cells. Endocrine 2018; 59:213-217. [PMID: 28265858 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-017-1270-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Fiorentini
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Martina Fragni
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guido A M Tiberio
- Surgical Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia at Asst Spedali Civili di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Diego Galli
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisa Roca
- Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at Asst Spedali Civili di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvi
- Section of Oncology and Experimental Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Bosisio
- Section of Oncology and Experimental Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Missale
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Terzolo
- Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berruti
- Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at Asst Spedali Civili di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sandra Sigala
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy
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16
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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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17
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Germano A, Rapa I, Duregon E, Votta A, Giorcelli J, Buttigliero C, Scagliotti GV, Volante M, Terzolo M, Papotti M. Tissue Expression and Pharmacological In Vitro Analyses of mTOR and SSTR Pathways in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Endocr Pathol 2017; 28:95-102. [PMID: 28271381 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-017-9473-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
New therapies for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are urgently needed, as the majority of the patients experience a rapid and inexorable progression despite surgery and adjuvant mitotane. In vitro data suggest that somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and mTOR pathway might represent reasonable targets for novel therapies, being involved in functionality and growth of ACC cells. However, in vitro analysis of combination treatments targeting both mTOR and SSTR as compared to mitotane are poorly explored in ACC. This study aimed to investigate in vitro the effects on cell growth of pasireotide, everolimus, and mitotane, alone or combined, in the two ACC cell lines H295R and SW13 (mitotane sensitive and resistant, respectively). Moreover, the tissue expression of mTOR pathway molecules and SSTR (types 1-5) was assessed in 58 ACCs. In both cell lines, only everolimus induced a significant inhibition of cell growth. Conversely, the combinations among mitotane, pasireotide, and everolimus produced antagonistic effects on mitotane-induced growth inhibition on H295R cell line. A heterogeneous profile of mTOR-related molecules and SSTR expression was observed in ACC samples, being the mTOR pathway found activated in approximately 30% of cases. In conclusion, our data suggest caution in designing combinations of mitotane with other drugs potentially active in ACC, such as mTOR inhibitors or somatostatin analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina Germano
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Ida Rapa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Eleonora Duregon
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
| | - Arianna Votta
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Jessica Giorcelli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Consuelo Buttigliero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgio V Scagliotti
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Volante
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Terzolo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Papotti
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences and Department of Oncology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
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18
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P53/Rb inhibition induces metastatic adrenocortical carcinomas in a preclinical transgenic model. Oncogene 2017; 36:4445-4456. [PMID: 28368424 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis. Pan-genomic analyses identified p53/Rb and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways as main contributors to the disease. However, isolated β-catenin constitutive activation failed to induce malignant progression in mouse adrenocortical tumors. Therefore, there still was a need for a relevant animal model to study ACC pathogenesis and to test new therapeutic approaches. Here, we have developed a transgenic mice model with adrenocortical specific expression of SV40 large T-antigen (AdTAg mice), to test the oncogenic potential of p53/Rb inhibition in the adrenal gland. All AdTAg mice develop large adrenal carcinomas that eventually metastasize to the liver and lungs, resulting in decreased overall survival. Consistent with ACC in patients, adrenal tumors in AdTAg mice autonomously produce large amounts of glucocorticoids and spontaneously activate WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway during malignant progression. We show that this activation is associated with downregulation of secreted frizzled related proteins (Sfrp) and Znrf3 that act as inhibitors of the WNT signaling. We also show that mTORC1 pathway activation is an early event during neoplasia expansion and further demonstrate that mTORC1 pathway is activated in ACC patients. Preclinical inhibition of mTORC1 activity induces a marked reduction in tumor size, associated with induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation that results in normalization of corticosterone plasma levels in AdTAg mice. Altogether, these data establish AdTAg mice as the first preclinical model for metastatic ACC.
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19
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De Martino MC, van Koetsveld PM, Feelders RA, Lamberts SWJ, de Herder WW, Colao A, Pivonello R, Hofland LJ. Effects of combination treatment with sirolimus and mitotane on growth of human adrenocortical carcinoma cells. Endocrine 2016; 52:664-7. [PMID: 26645813 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-015-0818-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina De Martino
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M van Koetsveld
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard A Feelders
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven W J Lamberts
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter W de Herder
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Uniniversità Federico II di Napoli, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Uniniversità Federico II di Napoli, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Leo J Hofland
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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20
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Liu J, Xu M, Zhao Y, Ao C, Wu Y, Chen Z, Wang B, Bai X, Li M, Hu W. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids abrogate mTORC1/2 signaling and inhibit adrenocortical carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Oncol Rep 2016; 35:3514-22. [PMID: 27035283 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for human health and have been reported to reduce the risk of cancer, inhibit the growth of various types of tumors both in vitro and in vivo, and affect adrenal function. However, their effects on adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are not known. In the present study, we demonstrated that docosahexenoic acid (DHA) inhibited ACC cell proliferation, colony formation and cell cycle progression, and promoted apoptosis. In addition, ectopic expression of fat-1, a desaturase that converts n-6 to n-3 PUFAs endogenously, also inhibited ACC cell proliferation. Moreover, supplementing n-3 PUFAs in the diet efficiently prevented ACC cell growth in xenograft models. Notably, implanted ACC cells were unable to grow in fat-1 transgenic severe combined immune deficiency mice. Further study revealed that exogenous and endogenous n-3 PUFAs efficiently suppressed both mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2 signaling in ACC in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings provide comprehensive preclinical evidence that n-3 PUFAs efficiently prevent ACC growth by inhibiting mTORC1/2, which may have important implications in the treatment of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Department of Urology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, P.R. China
| | - Meinian Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Yongbin Zhao
- Department of Urology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, P.R. China
| | - Chunping Ao
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Yukun Wu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Zhenguo Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Bangqi Wang
- Department of Urology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, P.R. China
| | - Xiaochun Bai
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P.R. China
| | - Weilie Hu
- Department of Urology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, P.R. China
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21
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Cabezon-Gutierrez L, Franco-Moreno AI, Khosravi-Shahi P, Custodio-Cabello S, Garcia-Navarro MJ, Martin-Diaz RM. Clinical Case of Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma With Unusual Evolution: Review the Literature. World J Oncol 2015; 6:485-490. [PMID: 28983351 PMCID: PMC5624676 DOI: 10.14740/wjon936w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy, with an incidence of approximately 0.72 per million cases per year leading to 0.2% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Metastatic ACC has a dismal prognosis with an overall survival of less than 1 year. We present a case of a 37-year-old man with metastatic ACC with unusual good prognosis and review the therapeutic options in the literature.
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22
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Kerkhofs TMA, Ettaieb MHT, Hermsen IGC, Haak HR. Developing treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Relat Cancer 2015; 22:R325-38. [PMID: 26259571 DOI: 10.1530/erc-15-0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer of the adrenal cortex (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with limited treatment options. Patients typically present with autonomous hormonal overproduction and/or a large abdominal mass. Hormonal assays and medical imaging can be diagnostic, but urinary steroid profiling might be a more sensitive technique to assess malignancy in adrenal tumours. The stage of the disease at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor. The current staging system needs refinement, especially to separate aggressive from indolent disease in stage IV patients and to select patients who need adjuvant treatment after complete surgical resection. Regarding the latter, assessing the proliferation index Ki-67 seems the best tool currently available. Genomic profiling is expected to become of clinical relevance in the future. Medical therapy is centred on the adrenolytic drug mitotane, which carries considerable toxicity and is not easy to manage. Its tolerability and long plasma level build-up phase may be improved by therapeutic drug monitoring based on pharmacokinetic modelling and intensive counselling of patients. Current chemotherapy regimens can offer disease stabilization in about 50% of patients, but an objective response should be expected in <25%. Research on targeted therapy and immunotherapy is difficult in this rare disease with often heavily pre-treated patients and has not yet been successful. Quality of care should be ensured by treating patients in centres with established experience in multidisciplinary oncologic care, who adhere to prevailing guidelines and state-of-the-art in diagnostic and treatment concepts. International collaboration in fundamental research and clinical trials is the key to further elucidate the pathogenesis and to improve patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M A Kerkhofs
- Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - M H T Ettaieb
- Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - I G C Hermsen
- Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - H R Haak
- Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands Department of Internal MedicineMaxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The NetherlandsDivision of General Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareMaastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
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23
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Kanjanapan Y, Prasanna T, Perampalam S, Yip D. The challenge of managing adrenocortical carcinoma: two case studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINE ONCOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/ije.15.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare entity affecting 1–2 people per million. It has a relatively poor prognosis, with an overall 5-year survival of 20–45%. The reasons include a high risk of recurrence following resection and relatively poor response to cytotoxic treatment. The use of the adrenalytic mitotane as adjuvant therapy is supported by level III evidence from cohort studies. In the metastatic setting, one randomized controlled trial provides level II evidence for a three-drug chemotherapy combination of cisplatin, etoposide and doxorubicin, with mitotane (EDP–M). We present two cases of adrenocortical carcinoma and discuss their management in light of the literature supporting the treatments. These cases illustrate the practicalities of management requiring a multidisciplinary team with the oncologist, endocrinologist, surgeon, anesthetist, radiologist and pathologist, all working in collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yada Kanjanapan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT, Australia
- Australian National University Medical School, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Thiru Prasanna
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT, Australia
| | - Sumathy Perampalam
- Australian National University Medical School, Acton, ACT, Australia
- Endocrinology Department, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT, Australia
| | - Desmond Yip
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT, Australia
- Australian National University Medical School, Acton, ACT, Australia
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24
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Abstract
Recent developments in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) include diagnostic and prognostic risk stratification algorithms, increasing evidence of the impact of historical therapies on overall survival, and emerging targets from integrated epigenomic and genomic analyses. Advances include proper clinical and molecular characterization of all patients with ACC, standardization of proliferative index analyses, referral of these patients to large cancer referral centers at the time of first surgery, and development of new trials in patients with well-characterized ACC. Networking and progress in the molecular characterization of ACC constitute the basis for significant future therapeutic breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Baudin
- Département de Médecine, Gustave Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, Paris South University, Villejuif Cedex 94805, France; Département de Nucléaire et de Cancérologie Endocrinienne, Gustave Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, Paris South University, Villejuif Cedex 94805, France; Faculté de Médecine, INSERM UMR 1185, 63 rue Gabriel Péri, F-94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Université Paris Sud, Paris, France.
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25
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Mihai R. Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of adrenocortical cancer. Br J Surg 2015; 102:291-306. [PMID: 25689291 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.9743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare disease with a dismal prognosis. The majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced disease and raise difficult management challenges. METHODS All references identified in PubMed, published between 2004 and 2014, using the keywords 'adrenocortical cancer' or 'adrenal surgery' or both, were uploaded into a database. The database was interrogated using keywords specific for each field studied. RESULTS In all, 2049 publications were identified. There is ongoing debate about the feasibility and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for small ACCs, and data derived from institutional case series have failed to provide an evidence level above expert opinion. The use of mitotane (1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane) in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic disease has been assessed in an international randomized trial (FIRM-ACT trial) involving patients with ACC. Based on this trial, mitotane plus etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin is now the established first-line cytotoxic therapy owing to a higher response rate and longer median progression-free survival than achieved with streptozocin-mitotane. For patients with tumours smaller than 5 cm and with no signs of lymph node or distant metastases, survival is favourable with a median exceeding 10 years. However, the overall 5-year survival rate for all patients with ACC is only 30 per cent. CONCLUSION Open and potentially laparoscopic adrenalectomy for selected patients is the main treatment for non-metastatic ACC, but the overall 5-year survival rate remains low.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mihai
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
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26
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Igaz P, Igaz I, Nagy Z, Nyírő G, Szabó PM, Falus A, Patócs A, Rácz K. MicroRNAs in adrenal tumors: relevance for pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:417-428. [PMID: 25297921 PMCID: PMC11114066 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1752-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence support the relevance of microRNAs in both adrenocortical and adrenomedullary (pheochromocytomas) tumors. Significantly differentially expressed microRNAs have been described among benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors and different forms of pheochromocytomas that might affect different pathogenic pathways. MicroRNAs can be exploited as markers of malignancy or disease recurrence. Besides tissue microRNAs, novel data show that microRNAs are released in body fluids, and blood-borne microRNAs can be envisaged as minimally invasive markers of malignancy or prognosis. MicroRNAs might even serve as treatment targets that could expand the rather-limited therapeutic repertoire in the field of adrenal tumors. In this review, we present a critical synopsis of the recent observations made in the field of adrenal tumor-associated microRNAs regarding their pathogenic, diagnostic, and potential therapeutic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Igaz
- 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Ivan Igaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Szent Imre Teaching Hospital, Tétényi str. 12-16, 1115, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Nagy
- 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nyírő
- Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter M Szabó
- 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Falus
- Department of Genetics Cell- and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad sq. 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Patócs
- Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
- "Lendület-2013" Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Károly Rácz
- 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
- Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi str. 46, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
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27
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Sasano H, Satoh F, Nakamura Y. Roles of the pathologist in evaluating surrogate markers for medical therapy in adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Pathol 2014; 25:366-70. [PMID: 25252621 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-014-9334-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy. Medical treatment including op'DDD or mitotane with or without platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy is frequently administered to the patients in an adjuvant setting following surgery or in advanced disease, because of aggressive clinical behavior in some cases. Potential roles of pathologists in determining the clinical algorithm of medical therapy are histopathological confirmation of adrenocortical carcinoma, both malignant features using the criteria of Weiss and adrenocortical origin applying immunohistochemistry of steroid factor-1 (SF-1); providing the relevant pathological information to determine the precise pathological stage in individual patients; and providing the accurate Ki67 labeling index of the patients. There are no established pathological surrogate markers for response to mitotane or op' DDD therapy available at this juncture but as in other malignancies, Ki67 LI could provide information as to the potential clinical response to platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is significantly overexpressed in adrenocortical carcinoma but the absence of gene mutations could limit the therapeutic application of anti-EGFR antibody and/or EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryou-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan,
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28
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Antonini SR, Leal LF, Cavalcanti MM. Pediatric adrenocortical tumors: diagnosis, management and advancements in the understanding of the genetic basis and therapeutic implications. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2014; 9:445-464. [PMID: 30736208 DOI: 10.1586/17446651.2014.941813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) may be sporadic or related to inherited genetic syndromes. Uncovering the molecular defects underlying these genetic syndromes has revealed key signaling pathways involved in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Although the understanding of ACT biology has improved, to date, very few potential prognostic molecular markers of childhood ACTs have been identified. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options for pediatric patients with ACTs. A review of the genetic basis of adrenocortical tumorigenesis is presented, focusing on the main molecular abnormalities involved in the tumorigenic process and potential novel therapy targets that have been generated, or are being generated, with the discovery of these molecular defects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Letícia F Leal
- a Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical-School - University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo M Cavalcanti
- a Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical-School - University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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29
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Halperin DM, Phan AT, Hoff AO, Aaron M, Yao JC, Hoff PM. A phase I study of imatinib, dacarbazine, and capecitabine in advanced endocrine cancers. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:561. [PMID: 25086465 PMCID: PMC4125701 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with advanced endocrine cancers, such as adrenocortical carcinoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma, have few well-validated therapeutic options. Pre-clinical studies have suggested potential activity of imatinib in these tumors. We therefore sought to establish a safe, novel treatment regimen combining imatinib with cytotoxic chemotherapy for future study in endocrine cancers. Methods A standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation design was used with a 21-day cycle, including imatinib on days 1–21, dacarbazine on days 1–3, and capecitabine on days 1–14. Results Twenty patients were treated. The most frequent toxicities were edema and fatigue, with dose-limiting fatigue and dyspnea. The recommended phase II regimen is dacarbazine 250 mg/m2 daily on day 1–3, capecitabine 500 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1–14, and imatinib 300 mg daily on days 1–21 of a 21-day cycle. Interestingly, responses were seen in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma, with 1 of 6 patients experiencing a partial response and a second experiencing a minor response, with progression-free survival of 8.8 and 6.4 months, respectively. Conclusions The regimen of imatinib, dacarbazine, and capecitabine is well-tolerated. It may have some activity in adrenocortical carcinoma, and further study of this combination or its components may be beneficial for this disease with limited treatment options. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00354523, registered July 18, 2006.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - James C Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M, D, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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30
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De Martino MC, Feelders RA, de Herder WW, van Koetsveld PM, Dogan F, Janssen JAMJL, Waaijers AM, Pivonello C, Lamberts SWJ, Colao A, de Krijger RR, Pivonello R, Hofland LJ. Characterization of the mTOR pathway in human normal adrenal and adrenocortical tumors. Endocr Relat Cancer 2014; 21:601-13. [PMID: 24891456 DOI: 10.1530/erc-13-0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The mTOR pathway has recently been suggested as a new potential target for therapy in adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs). The aim of the current study is to describe the expression of the mTOR pathway in normal adrenals (NAs) and pathological adrenals and to explore whether there are correlation between the expression of these proteins and the in vitro response to sirolimus. For this purpose, the MTOR, S6K1 (RPS6KB1), and 4EBP1 (EIF4EBP1) mRNA expression were evaluated in ten NAs, ten adrenal hyperplasias (AHs), 17 adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs), and 17 ACCs by qPCR, whereas total(t)/phospho(p)-MTOR, t/p-S6K, and t/p-4EBP1 protein expression were assessed in three NAs, three AHs, six ACAs, and 20 ACCs by immunohistochemistry. The effects of sirolimus on cell survival and/or cortisol secretion in 12 human primary cultures of adrenocortical tumors (ATs) were also evaluated. In NAs and AHs, layer-specific expression of evaluated proteins was observed. S6K1 mRNA levels were lower in ACCs compared with NAs, AHs, and ACAs (P<0.01). A subset of ATs presented a moderate to high staining of the evaluated proteins. Median t-S6K1 protein expression in ACCs was lower than that in ACAs (P<0.01). Moderate to high staining of p-S6K1 and/or p-4EBP1 was observed in most ATs. A subset of ACCs not having moderate to high staining had a higher Weiss score than others (P<0.029). In primary AT cultures, sirolimus significantly reduced cell survival or cortisol secretion only in sporadic cases. In conclusion, these data suggest the presence of an activated mTOR pathway in a subset of ATs and a possible response to sirolimus only in certain ACC cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina De Martino
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Richard A Feelders
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter W de Herder
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M van Koetsveld
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Fadime Dogan
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph A M J L Janssen
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - A Marlijn Waaijers
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Pivonello
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Steven W J Lamberts
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald R de Krijger
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Leo J Hofland
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e ChirurgiaSezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of PathologyErasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
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Ronchi CL, Kroiss M, Sbiera S, Deutschbein T, Fassnacht M. EJE prize 2014: current and evolving treatment options in adrenocortical carcinoma: where do we stand and where do we want to go? Eur J Endocrinol 2014; 171:R1-R11. [PMID: 24714084 DOI: 10.1530/eje-14-0273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is not only a rare and heterogeneous disease but also one of the most aggressive endocrine tumors. Despite significant advances in the last decade, its pathogenesis is still only incompletely understood and overall therapeutic means are unsatisfactory. Herein, we provide our personal view of the currently available treatment options and suggest the following research efforts that we consider timely and necessary to improve therapy: i) for better outcome in localized ACCs, surgery should be restricted to experienced centers, which should then collaborate closely to address the key surgical questions (e.g. best approach and extent of surgery) in a multicenter manner. ii) For the development of better systemic therapies, it is crucial to elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms of action of mitotane. iii) A prospective trial is needed to address the role of cytotoxic drugs in the adjuvant setting in aggressive ACCs (e.g. mitotane vs mitotane+cisplatin). iv) For metastatic ACCs, new regimens should be investigated as first-line therapy. v) Several other issues (e.g. the role of radiotherapy and salvage therapies) might be answered - at least in a first step - by large retrospective multicenter studies. In conclusion, although it is unrealistic to expect that the majority of ACCs can be cured within the next decade, international collaborative efforts (including multiple translational and clinical studies) should allow significant improvement of clinical outcome of this disease. To this end, it might be reasonable to expand the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) to a truly worldwide international network - INSAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina L Ronchi
- Endocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kroiss
- Endocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Endocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Timo Deutschbein
- Endocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Endocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyEndocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyEndocrine and Diabetes UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center MainfrankenUniversity of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyCentral LaboratoryUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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32
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MicroRNA era: the importance for diagnosis and prognosis of adrenocortical tumors. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:381917. [PMID: 25050346 PMCID: PMC4094856 DOI: 10.1155/2014/381917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play an essential role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. They are evolutionary conserved, small, noncoding, 19–22-nucleotide RNAs, whose abnormalities, such as up- or downregulated expression, have been associated with several neoplasms, including adrenocortical tumors. Expression levels of distinct microRNAs can distinguish benign from malignant adrenal tumors. This current review provides recent data on the miRNAs profile in benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors diagnosed in adult and pediatric patients.
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33
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Adrenocortical carcinoma: the management of metastatic disease. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2014; 92:123-32. [PMID: 24958272 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical cancer is a rare malignancy. While surgery is the cornerstone of the management of localized disease, metastatic disease is hard to treat. Cytotoxic chemotherapy and mitotane have been utilized with a variable degree of benefit and few long-term responses. A growing understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this malignancy as well as multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborative efforts will result in better defined targets and subsequently, effective novel therapies.
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Lerario AM, Moraitis A, Hammer GD. Genetics and epigenetics of adrenocortical tumors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 386:67-84. [PMID: 24220673 PMCID: PMC3943605 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical tumors are common neoplasms. Most are benign, nonfunctional and clinically irrelevant. However, adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare disease with a dismal prognosis and no effective treatment apart from surgical resection. The molecular genetics of adrenocortical tumors remain poorly understood. For decades, molecular studies relied on a small number of samples and were directed to candidate-genes. This approach, based on the elucidation of the genetics of rare genetic syndromes in which adrenocortical tumors are a manifestation, has led to the discovery of major dysfunctional molecular pathways in adrenocortical tumors, such as the IGF pathway, the Wnt pathway and TP53. However, with the advent of high-throughput methodologies and the organization of international consortiums to obtain a larger number of samples and high-quality clinical data, this paradigm is rapidly changing. In the last decade, genome-wide expression profile studies, microRNA profiling and methylation profiling allowed the identification of subgroups of tumors with distinct genetic markers, molecular pathways activation patterns and clinical behavior. As a consequence, molecular classification of tumors has proven to be superior to traditional histological and clinical methods in prognosis prediction. In addition, this knowledge has also allowed the proposal of molecular-targeted approaches to provide better treatment options for advanced disease. This review aims to summarize the most relevant data on the rapidly evolving field of genetics of adrenal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio M Lerario
- Adrenal Disorders Unit - LIM/42, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HC-FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andreas Moraitis
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine Endocrine Oncology Program, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5902, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Center for Organogenesis, University of Michigan Health System, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, 1528 BSRB, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA.
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Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an orphan malignancy that has attracted increasing attention during the last decade. Here we provide an update on advances in the field since our last review published in this journal in 2006. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway and IGF-2 signaling have been confirmed as frequently altered signaling pathways in ACC, but recent data suggest that they are probably not sufficient for malignant transformation. Thus, major players in the pathogenesis are still unknown. For diagnostic workup, comprehensive hormonal assessment and detailed imaging are required because in most ACCs, evidence for autonomous steroid secretion can be found and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (if necessary, combined with functional imaging) can differentiate benign from malignant adrenocortical tumors. Surgery is potentially curative in localized tumors. Thus, we recommend a complete resection including lymphadenectomy by an expert surgeon. The pathology report should demonstrate the adrenocortical origin of the lesion (eg, by steroidogenic factor 1 staining) and provide Weiss score, resection status, and quantitation of the proliferation marker Ki67 to guide further treatment. Even after complete surgery, recurrence is frequent and adjuvant mitotane treatment improves outcome, but uncertainty exists as to whether all patients benefit from this therapy. In advanced ACC, mitotane is still the standard of care. Based on the FIRM-ACT trial, mitotane plus etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin is now the established first-line cytotoxic therapy. However, most patients will experience progress and require salvage therapies. Thus, new treatment concepts are urgently needed. The ongoing international efforts including comprehensive "-omic approaches" and next-generation sequencing will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and hopefully lead to better therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Fassnacht
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Hospital of the University of Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, 80336 München, Germany.
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Glover AR, Ip JCY, Zhao JT, Soon PSH, Robinson BG, Sidhu SB. Current management options for recurrent adrenocortical carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2013; 6:635-43. [PMID: 23776337 PMCID: PMC3681406 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s34956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer that poses a number of management challenges due to the limited number of effective systemic treatments. Complete surgical resection offers the best chance of long-term survival. However, despite complete resection, ACC is associated with high recurrence rates. This review will discuss the management of recurrent ACC in adults following complete surgical resection. Management should take place in a specialist center and treatment decisions must consider the individual tumor biology of each case of recurrence. Given the fact that ACC commonly recurs, management to prevent recurrence should be considered from initial diagnosis with the use of adjuvant mitotane. Close follow up with clinical examination and imaging is important for early detection of recurrent disease. Locoregional recurrence may be isolated, and repeat surgical resection should be considered along with mitotane. The use of radiotherapy in ACC remains controversial. Systemic recurrence most often involves liver, pulmonary, and bone metastasis and is usually managed with mitotane, with or without combination chemotherapy. There is a limited role for surgical resection in systemic recurrence in selected patients. In all patients with recurrent disease, control of excessive hormone production is an important part of management. Despite intensive management of recurrent ACC, treatment failure is common and the use of clinical trials and novel treatment is an important part of management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Glover
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia
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