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Pato E, Srougi V, Zerbini C, Ledesma FL, Tanno F, Almeida MQ, Nahas W, Latronico AC, Mendonca BB, Chambô JL, Fragoso MCBV. Clinical and Pathological Predictors of Death for Adrenocortical Carcinoma. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvad170. [PMID: 38384443 PMCID: PMC10881101 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvad170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and lethal disease with a poor prognosis. This study aims to share our 41-year experience as a referral center, focusing on identifying risk factors associated with ACC mortality. Our retrospective analysis included a cohort of 150 adult patients with ACC in all stage categories, treated between 1981 and 2022. Tumor hormonal hypersecretion was observed in 78.6% of the patients, and the median age of diagnosis was 40 years. The majority presented as European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) III or IV (22.9% and 31.2%, respectively), and the overall mortality rate was 54.6%. Independent predictors of death were elevated secretion of cortisol (HR = 2.0), androstenedione (HR = 2.2), estradiol (HR = 2.8), 17-OH progesterone (HR = 2.0), and 11-deoxycortisol (HR = 5.1), higher Weiss (HR = 4.3), modified Weiss (HR = 4.4), and Helsinki scores (HR = 12.0), advanced ENSAT stage (HR = 27.1), larger tumor size (HR = 2.7), higher Ki-67 percentage (HR = 2.3), and incomplete surgical resection (HR = 2.5). Mitosis greater than 5/50 high-power field (HR = 5.6), atypical mitosis (HR = 2.3), confluent necrosis (HR = 15.4), venous invasion (HR = 2.8), and capsular invasion (HR = 2.4) were also identified as independent predictors of death. Knowing the risk factors for ACC's mortality may help determine the best treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Pato
- Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Victor Srougi
- Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Claudia Zerbini
- Division of Pathology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Felipe L Ledesma
- Division of Pathology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Fabio Tanno
- Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Madson Q Almeida
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - William Nahas
- Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia Latronico
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Berenice B Mendonca
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Jose L Chambô
- Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Maria Candida B V Fragoso
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 05403-010, Brazil
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Capone E, Perrotti V, Cela I, Lattanzio R, Togni L, Rubini C, Caponio VCA, Lo Muzio L, Colasante M, Giansanti F, Ippoliti R, Iacobelli S, Wick MJ, Spardy Burr N, Sala G. Anti-LGALS3BP antibody-drug conjugate treatment induces durable and potent antitumor response in a preclinical model of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2024; 148:106635. [PMID: 37988837 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of cancer that typically arises from glandular tissues, most commonly in the salivary glands. Although relatively rare, it represents a serious clinical issue as the management of the disease is highly complex being the only therapeutic options represented by invasive surgery and/or radiotherapy. In the present study, we have explored the potential of galectin-3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) as a novel target for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy in ACC. MATERIALS AND METHODS RNAseq was conducted on a panel of 10 ACC patient-derived xenografts (PDX)s tissues and 6 normal salivary glands to analyze LGALS3BP gene expression. Protein expression was assessed in ACC PDX and primary tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry. Anti-LGALS3BP ADC named 1959-sss/DM4, was tested in high LGALS3BP expressing ACC PDX model ST1502B. RESULTS RNAseq analysis revealed that LGALS3BP expression was highly expressed in ACC PDX tissues compared to normal salivary gland tissues. As evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis, LGALS3BP protein was found to be heterogeneously expressed in 10 ACC PDX and in tumor tissues derived from a cohort of 37 ACC patients. Further, treatment with 1959-sss/DM4 ADC led to durable tumor growth inhibition (TGI) in 100% of animals without observed toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides strong evidence that LGALS3BP is a promising therapeutic target for ACC, warranting further expedited preclinical and clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Capone
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G.D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Vittoria Perrotti
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; UdA-TechLab, Research Center, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cela
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G.D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G.D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Togni
- Department of Biomedical, Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Corrado Rubini
- Department of Biomedical, Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Lo Muzio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University, Foggia, Italy
| | - Martina Colasante
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, Italy
| | - Francesco Giansanti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Gianluca Sala
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G.D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
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Ghosh C, Hu J, Kebebew E. Advances in translational research of the rare cancer type adrenocortical carcinoma. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:805-824. [PMID: 37857840 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00623-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with an annual worldwide incidence of 1-2 cases per 1 million and a 5-year survival rate of <60%. Although adrenocortical carcinoma is rare, such rare cancers account for approximately one third of patients diagnosed with cancer annually. In the past decade, there have been considerable advances in understanding the molecular basis of adrenocortical carcinoma. The genetic events associated with adrenocortical carcinoma in adults are distinct from those of paediatric cases, which are often associated with germline or somatic TP53 mutations and have a better prognosis. In adult primary adrenocortical carcinoma, the main somatic genetic alterations occur in genes that encode proteins involved in the WNT-β-catenin pathway, cell cycle and p53 apoptosis pathway, chromatin remodelling and telomere maintenance pathway, cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway or DNA transcription and RNA translation pathways. Recently, integrated molecular studies of adrenocortical carcinomas, which have characterized somatic mutations and the methylome as well as gene and microRNA expression profiles, have led to a molecular classification of these tumours that can predict prognosis and have helped to identify new therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize these recent translational research advances in adrenocortical carcinoma, which it is hoped could lead to improved patient diagnosis, treatment and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiangnan Hu
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Electron Kebebew
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Zagojska E, Malka M, Gorecka A, Ben-Skowronek I. Case Report: Adrenocortical carcinoma in children-symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1216501. [PMID: 38075063 PMCID: PMC10702754 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1216501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinomas are extremely rare in the paediatric population. Most of them are hormone-secretive lesions; therefore, they should be taken into consideration in a child with signs of precocious puberty and/or Cushing's syndrome symptoms. Nonetheless, differentiation from benign adrenal tumours is necessary. We report a rare case of adrenocortical carcinoma in a girl and a literature review using the PubMed database. A four-year-old girl presented with rapidly progressing precocious puberty and signs of Cushing's syndrome. Imaging of the abdomen revealed a large heterogeneous solid mass. Histopathologic evaluation confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma with high mitotic activity, atypical mitoses, pleomorphism, necrosis, and vascular invasion. After tumourectomy, a decrease of previously elevated hormonal blood parameters was observed. Genetic tests confirmed Li Fraumeni syndrome. Adrenocortical carcinoma should be suspected in children with premature pubarche and signs of Cushing's syndrome. Diagnosis must be based on clinical presentation, hormonal tests, imaging, and histopathological evaluation. Complete surgical resection of the tumour is the gold standard. Oncological treatment in children is not yet well-studied and should be individually considered, especially in advanced, inoperable carcinomas with metastases. Genetic investigations are useful for determining the prognosis in patients and their siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Iwona Ben-Skowronek
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Libé R, Huillard O. Adrenocortical carcinoma: Diagnosis, prognostic classification and treatment of localized and advanced disease. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2023; 37:100759. [PMID: 37690343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2023.100759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer with an estimated incidence of 0.7 to 2.0 cases per 1 million population per year in the United States. It is an aggressive cancer originating in the cortex of the adrenal gland with a poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate is less than 15% among patients with metastatic disease. In this article, we review the epidemiology and pathogenesis of ACC, the diagnostic procedures, the prognostic classification of ACC, and the treatment options from localized and resectable forms to advanced disease detailing recent therapeutic developments such as immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Libé
- Service Endocrinologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, French National Network, ENDOCAN-COMETE, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Huillard
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, Department of medical oncology, Hôpital Cochin, F-75014, Paris, France.
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Carsote M, Turturea IF, Turturea MR, Valea A, Nistor C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA. Pathogenic Insights into DNA Mismatch Repair (MMR) Genes-Proteins and Microsatellite Instability: Focus on Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Beyond. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13111867. [PMID: 37296718 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13111867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA damage repair pathways, including mismatch repair (MMR) genes, are prone to carcinoma development in certain patients. The assessment of the MMR system is widely recognized as part of strategies concerning solid tumors (defective MMR cancers), especially MMR proteins (through immunohistochemistry), and molecular assays for microsatellite instability (MSI). We aim to highlight the status of MMR genes-proteins (including MSI) in the relationship with ACC (adrenocortical carcinoma) according to current knowledge. This is a narrative review. We included PubMed-accessed, full-length English papers published between January 2012 and March 2023. We searched studies on ACC patients for whom MMR status was assessed, respectively subjects harboring MMR germline mutations, namely Lynch syndrome (LS), who were diagnosed with ACC. MMR system assessments in ACCs involve a low level of statistical evidence. Generally, there are two main types of endocrine insights: 1. the role of MMR status as a prognostic marker in different endocrine malignancies (including ACC)-which is the topic of the present work, and 2. establishing the indication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in selective, mostly highly aggressive, non-responsive to standard care forms upon MMR evaluation (which belongs to the larger chapter of immunotherapy in ACCs). Our one-decade, sample-case study (which, to our knowledge, it is the most comprehensive of its kind) identified 11 original articles (from 1 patient to 634 subjects per study diagnosed with either ACC or LS). We identified four studies published in 2013 and 2020 and two in 2021, three cohorts and two retrospective studies (the publication from 2013 includes a retrospective and a cohort distinct section). Among these four studies, patients already confirmed to have LS (N = 643, respective 135) were found to be associated with ACC (N = 3, respective 2), resulting in a prevalence of 0.0046%, with a respective of 1.4% being confirmed (despite not having a large amount of similar data outside these two studies). Studies on ACC patients (N = 364, respective 36 pediatric individuals, and 94 subjects with ACC) showed that 13.7% had different MMR gene anomalies, with a respective of 8.57% (non-germline mutations), while 3.2% had MMR germline mutations (N = 3/94 cases). Two case series included one family, with a respective four persons with LS, and each article introduced one case with LS-ACC. Another five case reports (between 2018 and 2021) revealed an additional five subjects (one case per paper) diagnosed with LS and ACC (female to male ratio of 4 to 1; aged between 44 and 68). Interesting genetic testing involved children with TP53-positive ACC and further MMR anomalies or an MSH2 gene-positive subject with LS with a concurrent germline RET mutation. The first report of LS-ACC referred for PD-1 blockade was published in 2018. Nevertheless, the use of ICPI in ACCs (as similarly seen in metastatic pheochromocytoma) is still limited. Pan-cancer and multi-omics analysis in adults with ACC, in order to classify the candidates for immunotherapy, had heterogeneous results, and integrating an MMR system in this larger and challenging picture is still an open issue. Whether individuals diagnosed with LS should undergo surveillance for ACC has not yet been proven. An assessment of tumor-related MMR/MSI status in ACC might be helpful. Further algorithms for diagnostics and therapy, also taking into consideration innovative biomarkers as MMR-MSI, are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Carsote
- Department of Endocrinology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ionut Florin Turturea
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cluj Emergency County Hospital, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Ana Valea
- Department of Endocrinology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Clinical County Hospital, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Claudiu Nistor
- Department 4-Cardio-Thoracic Pathology, Thoracic Surgery II Discipline, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Thoracic Surgery Department, Dr. Carol Davila Central Emergency University Military Hospital, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ancuta-Augustina Gheorghisan-Galateanu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Department of Endocrinology, C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
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Delvecchio VS, Fierro C, Giovannini S, Melino G, Bernassola F. Emerging roles of the HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases in hematological malignancies. Discov Oncol 2021; 12:39. [PMID: 35201500 PMCID: PMC8777521 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-021-00435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination-mediated proteolysis or regulation of proteins, ultimately executed by E3 ubiquitin ligases, control a wide array of cellular processes, including transcription, cell cycle, autophagy and apoptotic cell death. HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases can be distinguished from other subfamilies of E3 ubiquitin ligases because they have a C-terminal HECT domain that directly catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to their substrate proteins. Deregulation of HECT-type E3-mediated ubiquitination plays a prominent role in cancer development and chemoresistance. Several members of this subfamily are indeed frequently deregulated in human cancers as a result of genetic mutations and altered expression or activity. HECT-type E3s contribute to tumorigenesis by regulating the ubiquitination rate of substrates that function as either tumour suppressors or oncogenes. While the pathological roles of the HECT family members in solid tumors are quite well established, their contribution to the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies has only recently emerged. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the involvement of the HECT-type E3s in leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Simona Delvecchio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Fierro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Giovannini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Bernassola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Ziqin L, Yurui W, Xiaobo C, Jing L, Yuzhu L. Delayed Identification of Adolescent Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma Initially Diagnosed as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2021; 34:764-767. [PMID: 33775909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare, isolated malignancy. CASE A 13-year-old girl presented with secondary amenorrhea, hirsutism, and hypertension. Her clinical manifestations were interpreted as polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperinsulinemia. The rapid progression of this pubertal girl's virilization should have, but did not draw clinical attention to her malignancy. Because her condition worsened, she ultimately was transferred to our hospital because of an abdominal mass. She was diagnosed with a very large adrenal cortical carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis. The child was in the advanced stage and presented adrenal crisis after chemotherapy and mitotane treatment. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Rapidly progressive masculinization, with a marked increase in adrenal-derived androgens, might indicate rare adrenal neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Ziqin
- Department of Endocrinology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
| | - Wu Yurui
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Xiaobo
- Department of Endocrinology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Jing
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Yuzhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
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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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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this article, we focus on the current and future treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). RECENT FINDINGS Radical surgery remains the only curative treatment for ACC. Recent reports showed a longer overall survival (OS) in patients with high risk of recurrence treated with adjuvant mitotane; the time in target range (14-20 mg/l) is related to low risk of relapse both in adjuvant and in palliative setting. In patients who experience disease progression after etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin with mitotane (EDP-M), gemcitabine and metronomic capecitabine, or the less used streptozotocin, represent a second-line chemotherapy option. Temozolomide can be employed as a third-line chemotherapy. To date, unsatisfactory results have been obtained on the efficacy of targeted therapies. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors. SUMMARY ACC is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The main therapy is represented by radical surgery conducted by an expert surgeon. Adjuvant mitotane has to be started in patients with high risk of recurrence. In patients with inoperable disease, the scheme EDP-M is the most employed. Few data are available on second-line and third-line chemotherapy in patients with disease progression after EDP-M. Currently, the role of targeted therapies is under evaluation.
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Subramanian C, Cohen MS. Identification of novel lipid metabolic biomarkers associated with poor adrenocortical carcinoma prognosis using integrated bioinformatics. Surgery 2021; 171:119-129. [PMID: 34353633 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2021.04.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma while rare, often presents with advanced metastatic disease carrying a 5-year survival of <15%. Despite adrenocortical carcinoma tumors having high avidity for cholesterol, the role of lipids in adrenocortical carcinoma has not been well described. Therefore, we performed an integrated bioinformatic analysis to identify novel lipid biomarkers correlating with poor survival that may help identify adrenocortical carcinoma tumor progression or therapy resistance. METHODS A meta-analysis of collated adrenocortical carcinoma studies from the correlation engine identified lipid metabolism genes differentially expressed between adrenocortical carcinoma and the normal adrenal, which were then selected for enrichment analysis by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery database. A protein-protein interaction network of genes was constructed using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins and Cytoscape. Top hub genes identified were validated using the Xena database. Survival analysis of hub genes was performed in the R2 genomic analysis platform using The Cancer Genome Atlas program data set. RESULTS Examination of pathways by correlation engine identified a unique subset of lipid metabolism-related genes that are differentially regulated in adrenocortical carcinoma tumors versus normal tissues (P < .01). Enrichment pathway analysis in Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery indicated that genes involved in sphingolipid, steroid, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α metabolism is upregulated in adrenocortical carcinoma, whereas glycerol phospholipid, fatty acid, and phosphatidylinositol metabolism are downregulated. Survival analysis of differentially regulated genes indicated that upregulation of SGPL1, FDFT1, SQLE and downregulation of PIK3C2B, PIK3CD, SYNJ2, DGAT1, PLA2G16, PLD1, GPD1 are all significantly associated with poor overall survival (P < .05) in adrenocortical carcinoma patients. CONCLUSION Upregulation of sphingolipid and steroid synthesis genes and downregulation of phosphatidylinositol and glycerol phospholipid metabolism are associated with worse survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark S Cohen
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI; Departments of Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
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Mizdrak M, Tičinović Kurir T, Božić J. The Role of Biomarkers in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Review of Current Evidence and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2021; 9:174. [PMID: 33578890 PMCID: PMC7916711 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy arising from the adrenal cortex often with unexpected biological behavior. It can occur at any age, with two peaks of incidence: in the first and between fifth and seventh decades of life. Although ACC are mostly hormonally active, precursors and metabolites, rather than end products of steroidogenesis are produced by dedifferentiated and immature malignant cells. Distinguishing the etiology of adrenal mass, between benign adenomas, which are quite frequent in general population, and malignant carcinomas with dismal prognosis is often unfeasible. Even after pathohistological analysis, diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinomas is not always straightforward and represents a great challenge for experienced and multidisciplinary expert teams. No single imaging method, hormonal work-up or immunohistochemical labelling can definitively prove the diagnosis of ACC. Over several decades' great efforts have been made in finding novel reliable and available diagnostic and prognostic factors including steroid metabolome profiling or target gene identification. Despite these achievements, the 5-year mortality rate still accounts for approximately 75% to 90%, ACC is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages and therapeutic options are unfortunately limited. Therefore, imperative is to identify new biological markers that can predict patient prognosis and provide new therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Mizdrak
- Department of Nephrology and Hemodialysis, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Tina Tičinović Kurir
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Joško Božić
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
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Fischer CP, Romero LM. The effects of daily mitotane or diazepam treatment on the formation of chronic stress symptoms in newly captured wild house sparrows. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa118. [PMID: 34970435 PMCID: PMC7771575 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals brought into captivity frequently experience chronic stress and typically need a period of time to adjust to the conditions of captivity (restraint, artificial lighting, altered diet, human presence, etc.), to which they may never fully acclimate. Changes in mass, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and heart rate parameters have been observed over the first week in newly captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus). In this study, we tested the effects of two drugs, diazepam and mitotane, in preventing the chronic stress symptoms caused by captivity, compared with oil-injected control animals. Diazepam is an anxiolytic that is widely prescribed in humans and other animals and has been shown in some cases to reduce physiological stress. Mitotane is an agent that causes chemical adrenalectomy, reducing the body's capacity to produce glucocorticoid hormones. Our mitotane treatment did not cause the expected change in corticosterone concentrations. Baseline corticosterone was higher after a week in captivity regardless of the treatment group, while stress-induced corticosterone did not significantly increase above baseline after a week in captivity in any treatment group. However, mitotane treatment did have some physiological effects, as it reduced the resting heart rate and the duration of the heart rate response to a sudden noise. It also prevented the increase in nighttime activity that we observed in control animals. There was no effect of diazepam on corticosterone, resting heart rate, activity or heart rate response to a sudden noise, and no effect of either treatment on the sympathetic vs parasympathetic control of the resting heart rate. Together, these data suggest that mitotane, but not diazepam, can have a modest impact on helping house sparrows adapt to captive conditions. Easing the transition to captivity will likely make conservation efforts, such as initiating captive breeding programs, more successful.
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Kandori S. Editorial Comment to Advanced adrenocortical carcinoma successfully treated with gemcitabine plus capecitabine as second-line chemotherapy. IJU Case Rep 2020; 3:274. [PMID: 33163923 PMCID: PMC7609188 DOI: 10.1002/iju5.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shuya Kandori
- Department of UrologyFaculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbarakiJapan
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Peng Y, Song Y, Ding J, Li N, Zhang Z, Wang H. Identification of immune-related biomarkers in adrenocortical carcinoma: Immune-related biomarkers for ACC. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 88:106930. [PMID: 32919215 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence has suggested that the tumor microenvironment, including immune infiltration, plays a crucially important role in tumor progression. Nevertheless, limited studies have been conducted on this topic in adrenocortical carcinoma. The present study aimed to explore the immune-related biomarkers in adrenocortical carcinoma. CIBERSORT was used to estimate the abundances of 22 kinds of immune cells, and univariable Cox analysis was performed to find survival-related immune cells with both Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-Free Interval (PFI). DESeq2 was applied to find differentially expressed genes between adrenocortical carcinoma and normal control samples; subsequently, weighted correlation network analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were conducted to identify immune-related hub genes. xCell, TISIDB, and MsigDB were searched to validate the immune associations of hub genes. Eventually, univariable Cox and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to assess the prognostic implications of the hub gene with the GEO database. Consequently, we identified two hub immune-related genes (ERN1, CEP55), GSEA revealed that both were mainly involved in tumor progression and immune response. ROC analysis indicated that ERN1 can accurately predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFI, and CEP55 had the best performance for the prediction of both OS and PFI compared with other traits. Univariable Cox and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that both genes have a significant effect on prognosis. Furthermore, both hub genes were validated in GEO datasets. The hub genes can provide better insights into tumor microenvironment and serve as potential biomarkers for immunotherapy in adrenocortical carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Peng
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital, Hexi, Tianjin 300000, China
| | - Yuxuan Song
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping, Tianjin 300000, China
| | - Jin Ding
- Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital, Hexi, Tianjin 300000, China
| | - Zheyu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital, Hexi, Tianjin 300000, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital, Hexi, Tianjin 300000, China.
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