Expert consensus document: A consensus on the medical treatment of acromegaly

Medical treatment of functional pituitary adenomas, trials and tribulations

CONTEXT

Functioning pituitary adenomas (FPAs) include most frequently prolactinomas, somatotroph or corticotroph adenomas, while thyrotroph and gonadotroph adenomas are very rare. Despite their benign histological nature (aggressive tumors are rare and malignant ones exceptional), FPAs could cause significant morbidity and increased mortality due to complications associated with hormonal excess syndromes and/or mass effect leading to compression of adjacent structures. This mini review will focus on the increasing role of medical therapy in the multimodal treatment, which also includes transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) and radiotherapy.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Most patients with prolactinomas are treated only with medications, but surgery could be considered for some patients in a specialized pituitary center, if higher chances of cure. Dopamine agonists, especially cabergoline, are efficient in reducing tumor size and normalizing prolactin. TSS is the first-line treatment for all other FPAs, but most patients require complex adjuvant treatment, including a combination of therapeutic approaches. Medical therapy is the cornerstone of treatment in all patients after unsuccessful surgery or when surgery cannot be offered and includes somatostatin receptor ligands and dopamine agonists (almost all FPAs), growth hormone receptor antagonists (acromegaly), adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors and glucocorticoid receptor blockers (Cushing's disease). Novel medical treatments, especially for acromegaly and Cushing's disease are under research.

CONCLUSIONS

An enlarged panel of effective drugs available with increased knowledge of predictive factors for response and/or adverse effects will enhance the possibility to offer a more individualized treatment. This would not only improve disease control and prognosis, but also quality of life.

Investigational drugs for the treatment of acromegaly: new agents to transform therapy

INTRODUCTION

Disease control is essential to decrease morbidity burden and mortality in acromegaly patients. In the last decades, the availability of new drugs increased the rate of disease control. However, up to 55% of patients remain uncontrolled despite available treatment strategies in real-world data. The reasons for this finding may include poor adherence, inadequate tolerability, therapeutic inertia, and high costs. Since acromegaly is a chronic disease and medical therapy is usually life-long, patient's adherence to treatment is fundamental in both achieving and maintaining disease control. Less invasive routes of administration could improve adherence and concur to increase disease control rate.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of current review is to provide a detailed update about investigational drugs for acromegaly treatment currently under investigation as paltusotine, ONO-5788, AP102, GT-02037, ISIS 766720, CAM2024, Lanreotide PRF, DP1038, MTD201, solid dose injection of octreotide.

EXPERT OPINION

Medical therapy of acromegaly is an evolving field. Current studies are addressing patient's need for both new molecules and less invasive routes of administration for already existing drugs. It cannot be ruled out that drugs currently used for other diseases such as cancer could be considered in the future for the treatment of acromegaly.

Pasireotide effects on biochemical control and glycometabolic profile in acromegaly patients switched from combination therapies or unconventional dosages of somatostatin analogs

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of pasireotide (PAS) therapy on hormonal and glycometabolic outcome in patients with acromegaly previously treated with combination medical therapies or unconventional dosages of first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs).

METHODS

Retrospective study carried out in two referral centers for pituitary diseases. Twenty-one acromegalic patients were switched to PAS (12 had biochemical control, 9 were uncontrolled). Data were collected after 3- and 6-months PAS treatment, and at the last available visit (median 35 months).

RESULTS

After switching to PAS therapy, a significant reduction in IGF-1 values was observed [median 39%; 0.79 xULN (IQR 0.5-1.01) vs 1.29 xULN (IQR 1.06-1.83); p = 0.009]. IGF-1 reduction was statistically significant in the 9 patients previously uncontrolled (61%, p = 0.016), and in the 12 controlled subjects (33%, p = 0.037). At last follow-up, the number of patients reaching an acceptable biochemical control (IGF-1 < 1.3 xULN) raised from 57 to 90% (p = 0.032). Mean HbA1c levels increased from 5.7% (5.5-5.9) to 6.0% (5.9-7) (p = 0.002), and the percentage of diabetic patients raised from 14% (3/21) to 67% (14/21) (p = 0.004). At the last evaluation HbA1c was ≥ 7.0% in 5 patients (24%). Antidiabetic drugs were initiated in 9 new patients, and in 7 out of 9 metformin alone was effective. Younger age and male sex were predictors for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.

CONCLUSION

PAS monotherapy can be effective in acromegalic patients previously treated with combination medical therapies or unconventional dosages of fg-SRLs. Glucose imbalance can be managed in the vast majority of cases by use of lifestyle interventions and metformin.

Surgical and non-surgical interventions for primary and salvage treatment of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas in adults

BACKGROUND

Growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma is a severe endocrine disease. Surgery is the currently recommended primary therapy for patients with GH-secreting tumours. However, non-surgical therapy (pharmacological therapy and radiation therapy) may be performed as primary therapy or may improve surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of surgical and non-surgical interventions for primary and salvage treatment of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas in adults.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The date of the last search of all databases was 1 August 2022. We did not apply any language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of more than 12 weeks' duration, reporting on surgical, pharmacological, radiation, and combination interventions for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas in any healthcare setting.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts for relevance, screened for inclusion, completed data extraction, and performed a risk of bias assessment. We assessed studies for overall certainty of the evidence using GRADE. We estimated treatment effects using random-effects meta-analysis. We expressed results as risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes together with 95% confidence intervals (CI) or mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes, or in descriptive format when meta-analysis was not possible.

MAIN RESULTS

We included eight RCTs that evaluated 445 adults with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Four studies reported that they included participants with macroadenomas, one study included a small number of participants with microadenomas. The remaining studies did not specify tumour subtypes. Studies evaluated surgical therapy alone, pharmacological therapy alone, or combination surgical and pharmacological therapy. Methodological quality varied, with many studies providing insufficient information to compare treatment strategies or accurately judge the risk of bias. We identified two main comparisons, surgery alone versus pharmacological therapy alone, and surgery alone versus pharmacological therapy and surgery combined. Surgical therapy alone versus pharmacological therapy alone Three studies with a total of 164 randomised participants investigated this comparison. Only one study narratively described hyperglycaemia as a disease-related complication. All three studies reported adverse events, yet only one study reported numbers separately for the intervention arms; none of the 11 participants were observed to develop gallbladder stones or sludge on ultrasonography following surgery, while five of 11 participants experienced any biliary problems following pharmacological therapy (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.47; 1 study, 22 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Health-related quality of life was reported to improve similarly in both intervention arms during follow-up. Surgery alone compared to pharmacological therapy alone may slightly increase the biochemical remission rate from 12 weeks to one year after intervention, but the evidence is very uncertain; 36/78 participants in the surgery-alone group versus 15/66 in the pharmacological therapy group showed biochemical remission. The need for additional surgery or non-surgical therapy for recurrent or persistent disease was described for single study arms only. Surgical therapy alone versus preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery Five studies with a total of 281 randomised participants provided data for this comparison. Preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery may have little to no effect on the disease-related complication of a difficult intubation (requiring postponement of surgery) compared to surgery alone, but the evidence is very uncertain (RR 2.00, 95% CI 0.19 to 21.34; 1 study, 98 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Surgery alone may have little to no effect on (transient and persistent) adverse events when compared to preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery, but again, the evidence is very uncertain (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.75 to 2.03; 5 studies, 267 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Concerning biochemical remission, surgery alone compared to preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery may not increase remission rates up until 16 weeks after surgery; 23 of 134 participants in the surgery-alone group versus 51 of 133 in the preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery group showed biochemical remission. Furthermore, the very low-certainty evidence did not suggest benefit or detriment of preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery compared to surgery alone for the outcomes 'requiring additional surgery' (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.05 to 5.06; 1 study, 61 participants; very low-certainty evidence) or 'non-surgical therapy for recurrent or persistent disease' (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.28; 2 studies, 100 participants; very low-certainty evidence). None of the included studies measured health-related quality of life. None of the eight included studies measured disease recurrence or socioeconomic effects. While three of the eight studies reported no deaths to have occurred, one study mentioned that overall, two participants had died within five years of the start of the study.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Within the context of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, patient-relevant outcomes, such as disease-related complications, adverse events and disease recurrence were not, or only sparsely, reported. When reported, we found that surgery may have little or no effect on the outcomes compared to the comparator treatment. The current evidence is limited by the small number of included studies, as well as the unclear risk of bias in most studies. The high uncertainty of evidence significantly limits the applicability of our findings to clinical practice. Detailed reporting on the burden of recurrent disease is an important knowledge gap to be evaluated in future research studies. It is also crucial that future studies in this area are designed to report on outcomes by tumour subtype (that is, macroadenomas versus microadenomas) so that future subgroup analyses can be conducted. More rigorous and larger studies, powered to address these research questions, are required to assess the merits of neoadjuvant pharmacological therapy or first-line pharmacotherapy.

Consensus on criteria for acromegaly diagnosis and remission

PURPOSE

The 14th Acromegaly Consensus Conference was convened to consider biochemical criteria for acromegaly diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

METHODS

Fifty-six acromegaly experts from 16 countries reviewed and discussed current evidence focused on biochemical assays; criteria for diagnosis and the role of imaging, pathology, and clinical assessments; consequences of diagnostic delay; criteria for remission and recommendations for follow up; and the value of assessment and monitoring in defining disease progression, selecting appropriate treatments, and maximizing patient outcomes.

RESULTS

In a patient with typical acromegaly features, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I > 1.3 times the upper limit of normal for age confirms the diagnosis. Random growth hormone (GH) measured after overnight fasting may be useful for informing prognosis, but is not required for diagnosis. For patients with equivocal results, IGF-I measurements using the same validated assay can be repeated, and oral glucose tolerance testing might also be useful. Although biochemical remission is the primary assessment of treatment outcome, biochemical findings should be interpreted within the clinical context of acromegaly. Follow up assessments should consider biochemical evaluation of treatment effectiveness, imaging studies evaluating residual/recurrent adenoma mass, and clinical signs and symptoms of acromegaly, its complications, and comorbidities. Referral to a multidisciplinary pituitary center should be considered for patients with equivocal biochemical, pathology, or imaging findings at diagnosis, and for patients insufficiently responsive to standard treatment approaches.

CONCLUSION

Consensus recommendations highlight new understandings of disordered GH and IGF-I in patients with acromegaly and the importance of expert management for this rare disease.

Trouillas's Grading and Post-Surgical Tumor Residue Assessment in Pituitary Adenomas: The Importance of the Multidisciplinary Approach

BACKGROUND

We aim to assess the role of a multidisciplinary approach in pituitary adenomas (PitNETs) classification, evaluate criteria concordance, and compare intraoperative assessments with post-operative MRIs for tumor remnants.

METHODS

Clinical, radiological, histological, and intra- and post-operative data of the treated PitNETs were extracted from prospectively created records. PitNETs were graded according to Trouillas, and the evaluation of the tumor remnants was recorded.

RESULTS

Of 362 PitNETs, 306 underwent surgery, with Trouillas grading assigned to 296. Eight-nine radiologically non-invasive PitNETs progressed to grades 1b (27), 2a (42), or 2b (20) due to proliferative or surgical invasiveness criteria. Twenty-six radiologically invasive tumors were graded 2b due to proliferative criteria. Surgical resection details and post-surgical MRI findings revealed that residual tumors were more common in grades 2a and 2b. During surgery, small tumor remnants were documented in 14 patients which were not visible on post-surgical MRI. Post-surgical MRIs identified remnants in 19 PitNETs not seen during surgery, located in lateral recesses of the sella (4), retrosellar (2), or suprasellar regions (7), along the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (6).

CONCLUSIONS

The Pituitary Board allows for the correct grading of PitNETs to be obtained and an accurate identification of high-risk patients who should undergo closer surveillance due to tumor remnants.

Efficacy and Safety of Pegvisomant in the Treatment of Acromegaly

Pegvisomant, the first and currently only clinically available growth hormone receptor antagonist, is an effective therapeutic option for the medical treatment of acromegaly, a rare disorder characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion. With now over 20 years of real world experience, its safety and efficacy is well-established. However, several aspects of its clinical use are still controversially discussed. The high cost of pegvisomant has limited its use in several countries, and recent studies have reported a lower efficacy than the initial clinical trials. A reported increase in tumor volume under therapy varies between studies and has been attributed to either actual growth or re-expansion after cessation of somatostatin receptor ligand therapy. Furthermore, different combinations of pegvisomant and other therapeutic agents aiming at reduction of acromegaly disease activity have been proposed to increase or retain effectiveness while lowering side effects and cost. This review aims to assess current clinical data on the safety and efficacy of pegvisomant while also addressing controversies surrounding its use.

Position statement on the diagnosis and management of acromegaly: The French National Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol (NDTP)

Acromegaly is a rare disease with prevalence of approximately 60 cases per million, slight female predominance and peak onset in adults in the fourth decade. Clinical diagnosis is often delayed by several years due to the slowly progressive onset of symptoms. There are multiple clinical criteria that define acromegaly: dysmorphic syndrome of insidious onset, symptoms related to the pituitary tumor (headaches, visual disorders), general signs (sweating, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, etc.), complications of the disease (musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pneumological, dental, metabolic comorbidities, thyroid nodules, colonic polyps, etc.) or sometimes clinical signs of associated prolactin hypersecretion (erectile dysfunction in men or cycle disorder in women) or concomitant mass-induced hypopituitarism (fatigue and other symptoms related to pituitary hormone deficiencies). Biological confirmation is based initially on elevated IGF-I and lack of GH suppression on oral glucose tolerance test or an elevated mean GH on repeated measurements. In confirmed cases, imaging by pituitary MRI identifies the causal tumor, to best determine management. In a minority of cases, acromegaly can be linked to a genetic predisposition, especially when it occurs at a young age or in a familial context. The first-line treatment is most often surgical removal of the somatotroph pituitary tumor, either immediately or after transient medical treatment. Medical treatments are most often proposed in patients not controlled by surgical removal. Conformal or stereotactic radiotherapy may be discussed on a case-by-case basis, especially in case of drug inefficacy or poor tolerance. Acromegaly should be managed by a multidisciplinary team, preferably within an expert center such as a reference or skill center for rare pituitary diseases.

Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Pasireotide in Patients With Acromegaly: 14 Years of Single-Center Real-World Experience

CONTEXT

Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, debilitating disorder caused by prolonged hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and overproduction of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Medical therapies, including the somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) pasireotide, are frequently used to restore biochemical control.

OBJECTIVE

As patients often receive therapy over prolonged periods, long-term data from real-life settings are needed.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed using a prospectively maintained database of all patients with acromegaly from our primary care center who were enrolled in clinical studies with pasireotide (first visit November 2008). The main outcome measures were safety and biochemical control (age-adjusted IGF-I ≤ upper limit of normal).

RESULTS

Patients (n = 50) entered 4 parental studies and 30 continued in the rollover; at data cutoff (June 2022), 27 were still receiving pasireotide. Overall, median (range) exposure was 58 (3-137) months. Normal IGF-I was achieved in 54%, and acromegaly symptoms and quality of life were improved with treatment. No predictors of pasireotide response were identified; however, controlled patients had smaller tumors and lower GH at baseline. Tumor volume reduction occurred in 63% of evaluable patients (n = 10/16). Most patients presented hyperglycemic events, including 63.2% of patients with normal glucose before treatment. Older patients and those with higher IGF-I, glucose, and HbA1c at baseline had higher glucose and HbA1c during pasireotide treatment.

CONCLUSION

Pasireotide provided clinical benefit and was well tolerated for more than 11 years of treatment in acromegaly patients, most of whom were resistant to first-generation SRLs.

Pilot study to define criteria for Pituitary Tumors Centers of Excellence (PTCOE): results of an audit of leading international centers

PURPOSE

The Pituitary Society established the concept and mostly qualitative parameters for defining uniform criteria for Pituitary Tumor Centers of Excellence (PTCOEs) based on expert consensus. Aim of the study was to validate those previously proposed criteria through collection and evaluation of self-reported activity of several internationally-recognized tertiary pituitary centers, thereby transforming the qualitative 2017 definition into a validated quantitative one, which could serve as the basis for future objective PTCOE accreditation.

METHODS

An ad hoc prepared database was distributed to nine Pituitary Centers chosen by the Project Scientific Committee and comprising Centers of worldwide repute, which agreed to provide activity information derived from registries related to the years 2018-2020 and completing the database within 60 days. The database, provided by each center and composed of Excel® spreadsheets with requested specific information on leading and supporting teams, was reviewed by two blinded referees and all 9 candidate centers satisfied the overall PTCOE definition, according to referees' evaluations. To obtain objective numerical criteria, median values for each activity/parameter were considered as the preferred PTCOE definition target, whereas the low limit of the range was selected as the acceptable target for each respective parameter.

RESULTS

Three dedicated pituitary neurosurgeons are preferred, whereas one dedicated surgeon is acceptable. Moreover, 100 surgical procedures per center per year are preferred, while the results indicated that 50 surgeries per year are acceptable. Acute post-surgery complications, including mortality and readmission rates, should preferably be negligible or nonexistent, but acceptable criterion is a rate lower than 10% of patients with complications requiring readmission within 30 days after surgery. Four endocrinologists devoted to pituitary diseases are requested in a PTCOE and the total population of patients followed in a PTCOE should not be less than 850. It appears acceptable that at least one dedicated/expert in pituitary diseases is present in neuroradiology, pathology, and ophthalmology groups, whereas at least two expert radiation oncologists are needed.

CONCLUSION

This is, to our knowledge, the first study to survey and evaluate the activity of a relevant number of high-volume centers in the pituitary field. This effort, internally validated by ad hoc reviewers, allowed for transformation of previously formulated theoretical criteria for the definition of a PTCOE to precise numerical definitions based on real-life evidence. The application of a derived synopsis of criteria could be used by independent bodies for accreditation of pituitary centers as PTCOEs.

Comparing MRI volume measurement techniques for pituitary macroadenoma: Investigating volume reduction and its relationship with biochemical control

Pituitary adenomas are one of the most common types of primary intracranial tumors. Measuring pituitary adenoma volume is fundamental for effective management. This study aimed to assess the reliability of the ellipsoid method in comparison with the perimeter method for measuring pituitary macroadenoma volume. In addition, we investigated the correlation between adenoma size reduction and biochemical control in functioning adenomas. This was a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study including 113 patients with pituitary macroadenomas. MRI was obtained for volume measurement by ellipsoid and perimeter methods using two types of DICOM viewer software. Both ellipsoid and perimeter methods exhibit positive, strong, and significant correlations in pituitary macroadenomas in pre-treatment and post-treatment volume (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.95, p-value <0.0001). There was no significant difference in the mean post-treatment pituitary adenoma volume measurements utilizing the ellipsoid and the perimeter methods in different treatment modalities. There were significant differences in the pre-treatment volume measurements between the two methods, both in NFPA and prolactinoma. No correlation was found between volume variability measured by ellipsoid and perimeter methods and the degree of hormonal control in functioning pituitary adenomas. Both the ellipsoid and perimetric methods can be utilized for pituitary adenoma volume measurements as they demonstrate a strong and positive correlation. However, it is important to note that the ellipsoid method tends to result in overestimated tumor volume. There was no correlation between the adenoma size reduction and the degree of biochemical response in functioning adenomas.

Two- and three-dimensional endoscopic endonasal surgery of large and giant pituitary adenomas-outcome analysis of a series of 62 patients from a single pituitary center

To analyze the perioperative course and clinical outcome of patients with large (lPA) and giant (gPA) pituitary adenoma who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) using either two-dimensional (2D-E) or three-dimensional (3D-E) endoscopic systems. Single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients with lPA and gPA who underwent EETS between November 2008 and January 2023. LPA were defined as ≥ 3 cm and < 4 cm in diameter in at least one dimension and a volume of ≥ 10ccm; gPA were defined as larger than 4 cm in diameter and with a greater volume than 10ccm. Patient data (age, sex, endocrinological and ophthalmological status) and tumor data (histology, tumor volume, size, shape, cavernous sinus invasion according to the Knosp classification) were analyzed. 62 patients underwent EETS. 43 patients were treated for lPA (69.4%) and 19 patients for gPA (30.6%). 46 patients (74.2%) underwent surgical resection using 3D-E and 16 patients 2D endoscopy (25.8%). Statistical results are referred to the comparison between 3D-E and 2D-E. Patients' age ranged from 23-88 years (median 57), 16 patients were female (25.8%), 46 male (74.2%). Complete tumor resection was possible in 43.5% (27/62), partial resection in 56.5% (35/62). Resection rates did not differ between 3D-E (27 patients [43.5%]) and 2D-E (7 patients [43.8%], (p = 0.985). Visual acuity improved in 30 of 46 patients with preoperative deficit (65.2%). In the 3D-E group 21 of 32 patients (65.7%) improved, compared to 9 of 14 patients in the 2D-E group (64.3%). Improvement of visual field was achieved in 31 of 50 patients (62.0%; 22 of 37 patients in the 3D-E group [59.4%] and 9 of 13 patients in the 2D-E group [69.2%]). CSF leak was the most frequent complication and occurred in 9 patients (14.5%, [8 patients 17.4% 3D-E]) without statistical significance. Other surgical complications like postoperative bleeding, infection (meningitis) and deterioration of visual acuity and field were detected without statistical difference. New pituitary anterior lobe dysfunction was observed in 30 of 62 patients (48.4%, 8 patients [50.0%] in the 2D-E group and 22 patients [47.8%] in the 3D-E group). A transient deficit of posterior lobe was detected in 22.6% (14/62). No patient died within 30 days of surgery. Although 3D-E may improve surgical dexterity, in this series of lPA and gPA it was not associated with higher resection rates compared to 2D-E. However, 3D-E visualization during resection of large and giant PA is safe and feasible and patient's clinical outcome is not different compared to 2D-E.

Predictors of postoperative biochemical remission in lower Knosp grade growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: a large single center study

PURPOSE

Growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas (GH-PAs) with a low Knosp grade are typically associated with a good postoperative biochemical remission (BR) rate. However, a proportion of patients do not achieve remission. In this study, we aimed to investigate predictive factors of postoperative remission for lower Knosp GH-PAs.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 140 patients who were diagnosed with lower Knosp (0-2) GH-PAs and received trans-sphenoidal surgery between December 2016 and June 2021 from the largest pituitary tumor surgery center in southern China. The univariate, binary Logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were employed to determine independent predictors and cutoff values of remission. The postoperative outcome was defined as remission using the 2010 consensus criteria of acromegaly.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty six patients (97.1%) achieved gross total resection. The postoperative long-term BR was 68.6%. Empty sella, tumor maximum diameter and postoperative GH levels were independent factors predicting remission. ROC revealed that postoperative 24 h GH ≤ 1.3 ng/mL and  ≤ 1.23 ng/mL were valuable predictors for 3-month and long-term remission respectively, and that postoperative 3-month GH ≤ 1.6 ng/mL and tumor maximum diameter  ≤ 17 mm were predictors for delayed remission.

CONCLUSION

Early postoperative GH levels can be used as predictors of remission. However, BR was not associated with preoperative somatostatin analogs therapy or Knosp grade (0-2). For patients without residual tumor or recurrence and whose GH levels are slightly elevated within 1 year after surgery, adjuvant treatments may not be necessary.

[Treatment of acromegaly - data from the German Acromegaly Register]

Acromegaly is a rare disease in which chronic growth hormone overproduction (usually from an anterior pituitary adenoma) leads to various systemic complications. The management of acromegaly and the comorbidities of the disease is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Early diagnosis is extremely important, as then the chances of a complete cure are significantly higher. The operation is the therapy of first choice and should be performed at a specialized center with an experienced neurosurgeon. With good patient information and guidance, the drug therapy of acromegaly patients in specialized practices and clinics can usually lead to biochemical control and thereby normalization of mortality risk. As with numerous rare diseases, care in specialized centers and recording and evaluation in registry studies can contribute to better patient care and the optimization of therapy and diagnostic guidelines. We assume that with the help of the German Acromegaly Registry, which currently includes more than 2500 patients with acromegaly, we will be able to present a realistic picture of the care situation in Germany in the coming years.

Giant growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas from the endocrinologist's perspective

OBJECTIVES

Since giant (≥40 mm) GH-secreting pituitary adenomas are rarely encountered, data on their characteristics and treatment outcomes are limited. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of giant GH-secreting pituitary adenomas and to compare their clinical, biochemical, imaging and histopathological features with non-giant macroadenomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have evaluated 15 (six female/nine male) and 57 (29 female/28 male) patients with acromegaly in giant and <40 mm adenoma groups, respectively. Patients with <40 mm adenoma were further divided into subgroups with adenoma size 20-29 mm and 30-39 mm.

RESULTS

In giant adenoma group, median (IQR) preoperative maximal diameter of adenoma was 40 mm (5 mm), median preoperative GH level was 40 (153.4) ng/mL and median baseline IGF-1 level was 2.19 (1.88) × ULN for age and sex. The number of surgeries was significantly higher in giant adenoma group (median 2, IQR 2) in which 66.7% of patients underwent repeated surgeries (p = 0.014). Residual tumor was detected after last operation in all patients with giant adenoma. Total number of treatment modalities administered postoperatively increased as adenoma size increased (p = 0.043). After a median follow-up duration of 10 years (IQR 10), hormonal remission was achieved in six patients (40%) of giant adenoma group, while the rate of hormonal remission in non-giant adenoma group was 37%. Although preoperative GH and IGF-1 levels and Ki-67 index tended to be higher with increasing adenoma size, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of these variables, as well as age, sex and invasion status.

CONCLUSION

Hormonal remission rates of acromegaly patients with ≥20 mm pituitary macroadenoma were comparable. However, giant GH-secreting pituitary adenomas require an aggressive multimodal treatment approach.

Resistance to Somatostatin Analogs in Italian Acromegaly Patients: The MISS Study

Approximately 60% of acromegaly patients are not adequately controlled by first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to identify the most relevant biomarkers specific for the Italian acromegaly population. Resistant patients were enrolled consecutively based on time of neurosurgery, while responders were collected in a 1:2 ratio. Clinical characteristics and T2-intensity on MRI scans at diagnosis were retrospectively re-evaluated. Histological analyses of CAM5.2 granulation patterns and SSTR2 expression were centrally performed. Sixty-three resistant patients and thirty-three responders were enrolled. A low-grade SSTR2 expression was the most relevant predictor of resistance identified (OR 4.58, p = 0.013), even considering CAM5.2 immunohistochemistry (OR 2.65, p = 0.047). T2-iso/hyperintense pattern on MRI was also associated with a 3.3-fold greater probability of poor response to medical treatment (p = 0.027), as well as a young age at diagnosis (OR 0.96, p = 0.035). In those patients treated only after neurosurgery due to persistent GH-hypersecretion (51, 53.1%) the absence of any appreciable adenomatous remnant on postoperative MRI was associated with a negligible risk of resistance (OR 0.04, p = 0.003). In the Italian acromegaly population, a low-grade SSTR2 expression seems to be the most relevant predictor of resistance to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands, followed by a SG/intermediate cytokeratin pattern and a T2-iso/hyperintense MRI signal.

Cost-effectiveness of direct surgery versus preoperative octreotide therapy for growth-hormone secreting pituitary adenomas

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of preoperative octreotide therapy followed by surgery versus the standard treatment modality for growth-hormone secreting pituitary adenomas, direct surgery (that is, surgery without preoperative treatment) from a public third-party payer perspective.

METHODS

We developed an individual-level state-transition microsimulation model to simulate costs and outcomes associated with preoperative octreotide therapy followed by surgery and direct surgery for patients with growth-hormone secreting pituitary adenomas. Transition probabilities, utilities, and costs were estimated from recent published data and discounted by 3% annually over a lifetime time horizon. Model outcomes included lifetime costs [2020 United States (US) Dollars], quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

RESULTS

Under base case assumptions, direct surgery was found to be the dominant strategy as it yielded lower costs and greater health effects (QALYs) compared to preoperative octreotide strategy in the second-order Monte Carlo microsimulation. The ICER was most sensitive to probability of remission following primary therapy and duration of preoperative octreotide therapy. Accounting for joint parameter uncertainty, direct surgery had a higher probability of demonstrating a cost-effective profile compared to preoperative octreotide treatment at 77% compared to 23%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Using standard benchmarks for cost-effectiveness in the US ($100,000/QALY), preoperative octreotide therapy followed by surgery may not be cost-effective compared to direct surgery for patients with growth-hormone secreting pituitary adenomas but the result is highly sensitive to initial treatment failure and duration of preoperative treatment.

Durable biochemical response and safety with oral octreotide capsules in acromegaly

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to report results from the open-label extension (OLE) of the OPTIMAL trial of oral octreotide capsules (OOC) in adults with acromegaly, evaluating the long-term durability of therapeutic response.

DESIGN

The study design is an OLE of a double-blind placebo-controlled (DPC) trial.

METHODS

Patients completing the 36-week DPC period on the study drug (OOC or placebo) or meeting predefined withdrawal criteria were eligible for OLE enrollment at 60 mg/day OOC dose, with the option to titrate to 40 or 80 mg/day. The OLE is ongoing; week 48 results are reported.

RESULTS

Forty patients were enrolled in the OLE, 20 each having received OOC or placebo, with 14 and 5 patients completing the DPC period as responders, respectively. Ninety percent of patients completing the DPC period on OOC and 70% of those completing on placebo completed 48 weeks of the OLE. Maintenance of response in the OLE (i.e. insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1) ≤ 1.0 × upper limit of normal (ULN)) was achieved by 92.6% of patients who responded to OOC during the DPC period. Mean IGF1 levels were maintained between the end of the DPC period (0.91 × ULN; 95% CI: 0.784, 1.045) and week 48 of the OLE (0.90 × ULN; 95% CI: 0.750, 1.044) for those completing the DPC period on OOC. OOC safety was consistent with previous findings, with no increased adverse events (AEs) associated with the higher dose and improved gastrointestinal tolerability observed over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acromegaly maintained long-term biochemical response while receiving OOC, with no new AEs observed with prolonged OOC exposure.

Dissecting the in vitro efficacy of octreotide and cabergoline in GH- and GH/PRL-secreting pituitary tumors

CONTEXT

Cabergoline (CAB) is an off-label medical therapy for acromegaly, overshadowed by first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands, e.g. octreotide (OCT).

OBJECTIVE

Head-to-head comparison between OCT and CAB in inhibiting growth hormone (GH) secretion in primary cultures of GH- and GH/PRL-secreting tumors. To investigate the role of somatostatin (SST) and dopamine type 2 (D2R) receptor expression.

DESIGN

To evaluate the antisecretory effect of OCT and CAB, together with receptor mRNA expression, in 23 tumor cultures.

SETTING AND PATIENTS

Acromegaly patients referred to the Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam, The Netherlands).

INTERVENTIONS

72-hour OCT and CAB treatment (10 nM).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

GH concentrations in cell culture media.

RESULTS

OCT showed a slightly higher efficacy compared with CAB (GH decrease -39.5% vs. -32.5%, p = 0.079). The effect of the two drugs was superimposable in GH/PRL co-secreting tumors (-42.1% vs. -44.8%), where SST1 and D2R had a higher expression compared to the pure GH-secreting ones (p = 0.020 and p = 0.026). OCT was more effective than CAB in 8/23 cultures, while CAB was more effective than OCT in 3/23 (CAB + group). In CAB + tumors, SST1 expression was higher compared to the other groups (p = 0.034). At ROC curve analysis, SST1 and D2R discriminated between GH and GH/PRL co-secretion (AUC 0.856, p = 0.013; AUC 0.822, p = 0.024). SST1 was the best predictor of CAB response (≥50% GH reduction, AUC 0.913, p = 0.006; 80% sensitivity, 94% specificity).

CONCLUSIONS

OCT is 5-10% more effective than CAB in vitro. SST1 mRNA expression can represent a reliable marker of GH/PRL co-secreting tumors showing a preferential response to CAB treatment.

Translational aspect in peptide drug discovery and development: An emerging therapeutic candidate

In the last two decades, protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have been used as the main target for drug development. However, with larger or superficial binding sites, it has been extremely difficult to disrupt PPIs with small molecules. On the other hand, intracellular PPIs cannot be targeted by antibodies that cannot penetrate the cell membrane. Peptides that have a combination of conformational rigidity and flexibility can be used to target difficult binding interfaces with appropriate binding affinity and specificity. Since the introduction of insulin nearly a century ago, more than 80 peptide drugs have been approved to treat a variety of diseases. These include deadly diseases such as cancer and human immunodeficiency virus infection. It is also useful against diabetes, chronic pain, and osteoporosis. Today, more research is being done on these drugs as lessons learned from earlier approaches, which are still valid today, complement newer approaches such as peptide display libraries. At the same time, integrated genomics and peptide display libraries are new strategies that open new avenues for peptide drug discovery. The purpose of this review is to examine the problems in elucidating the peptide-protein recognition mechanism. This is important to develop peptide-based interventions that interfere with endogenous protein interactions. New approaches are being developed to improve the binding affinity and specificity of existing approaches and to develop peptide agents as potentially useful drugs. We also highlight the key challenges that must be overcome in peptide drug development to realize their potential and provide an overview of recent trends in peptide drug development. In addition, we take an in-depth look at early efforts in human hormone discovery, smart medicinal chemistry and design, natural peptide drugs, and breakthrough advances in molecular biology and peptide chemistry.

A current perspective of pituitary adenoma MRI characteristics: a review

INTRODUCTION

MR imaging is an essential and fundamental tool in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with pituitary adenomas (PAs). Recent advances have continued to enhance the usefulness of this imaging modality.

AREAS COVERED

This article focuses on signal intensity patterns of PAs and associated clinical characteristics, vertical extension patterns, and cavernous sinus invasion with a special focus on the clinical implications that arise. A search using Medline and Google Scholar was conducted using different combinations of relevant keywords, giving preference to recent publications.

EXPERT OPINION

A higher proportion of GH-secreting PAs are hypointense on T2 weighted images compared to other tumor subtypes. Hypointense tumors are generally smaller compared to hyperintense ones, and among the GH-secreting subgroup, a better response to somatostatin analogue treatment was noted together with an association for a densely granulated pattern. Nonfunctional PAs show a predilection to extend upwards while GH-secreting PAs and prolactinomas show a predominantly inferior extension growth pattern. Further studies to better understand the mechanisms responsible for this behavior are anticipated. Further development, refining and validation of predictive scoring systems for tumor behavior might be useful adjuncts in the management of patients with PAs.

Are there country-specific differences in the use of pegvisomant for acromegaly in clinical practice? An analysis from ACROSTUDY

OBJECTIVE

A comprehensive picture of pegvisomant use for treating acromegaly in routine clinical practice in different countries is lacking. We aimed, therefore, to document country-specific behaviors in real-life pegvisomant use, and the main safety and effectiveness outcomes in the ACROSTUDY.

DESIGN

ACROSTUDY is an open-label, non-interventional, post-marketing safety surveillance study.

METHODS

A descriptive analysis was performed using data from the six top-recruiter ACROSTUDY countries, i.e., Germany (n = 548 patients), Italy (n = 466), France (n = 312), USA (n = 207), Spain (n = 200) and the Netherlands (n = 175). These nations accounted for > 85% of the ACROSTUDY cases.

RESULTS

The mean pegvisomant dose at treatment start was lowest in the Netherlands (9.4 mg/day), whereas it ranged between 10.9 and 12.6 mg/day in the other countries. At year 5, the mean pegvisomant dose was around 15 mg/day in all countries, except France (18.1 mg/day). At starting pegvisomant, patients treated with monotherapy ranged between 15% in the Netherlands and 72% in Spain. Monotherapy remained lowest over time in the Netherlands. In all countries, the percentage of patients with normal IGF-1 increased steeply from < 20% at baseline to 43-58% at month 6 and 51-67% at year 1. After that, we observed minor changes in the rate of acromegaly control in all countries. The Netherlands peaked in disease control at year 2 (72%). The proportion of patients reporting changes in pituitary tumor size was generally low. Serious treatment-related adverse events were < 5% in all countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided a detailed summary of real-life use of pegvisomant in the six top-recruiter ACROSTUDY nations.

Machine learning as a clinical decision support tool for patients with acromegaly

OBJECTIVE

To develop machine learning (ML) models that predict postoperative remission, remission at last visit, and resistance to somatostatin receptor ligands (SRL) in patients with acromegaly and to determine the clinical features associated with the prognosis.

METHODS

We studied outcomes using the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) values, which were reported as the performance metric. To determine the importance of each feature and easy interpretation, Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) values, which help explain the outputs of ML models, are used.

RESULTS

One-hundred fifty-two patients with acromegaly were included in the final analysis. The mean AUROC values resulting from 100 independent replications were 0.728 for postoperative 3 months remission status classification, 0.879 for remission at last visit classification, and 0.753 for SRL resistance status classification. Extreme gradient boosting model demonstrated that preoperative growth hormone (GH) level, age at operation, and preoperative tumor size were the most important predictors for early remission; resistance to SRL and preoperative tumor size represented the most important predictors of remission at last visit, and postoperative 3-month insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and GH levels (random and nadir) together with the sparsely granulated somatotroph adenoma subtype served as the most important predictors of SRL resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

ML models may serve as valuable tools in the prediction of remission and SRL resistance.

Evaluation of acromegaly treatment direct costs with respect to biochemical control and follow-up length

PURPOSE

Acromegaly is a severe chronic endocrine disease. Achieving biochemical control often needs a multimodal treatment approach, including prolonged medical treatment. Aim of the study is to evaluate the burden of treatment direct costs with respect to the different therapeutic strategies, disease control, and follow-up length.

METHODS

Single center retrospective study on 73 acromegaly patients. Costs of acromegaly treatments were computed based on a detailed revision of patients' clinical charts.

RESULTS

Median total treatment cost/patient was €47,343 during the entire follow-up (8 years), while median treatment cost/patient/year was €6811. The majority of patients received medical therapy (71/73, 97.3%). Median cost for first-line medical treatment (first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands) was lower compared to second-line treatments (pegvisomant monotherapy or combination therapies), considering both total (€22,824 vs €76,140; p < 0.001), and yearly cost/patient (€4927 vs €9161; p < 0.001). Sixty patients (82.2%) reached biochemical control at last follow-up (IGF-1 ≤ 1 xULN). The percentage of patients treated with first- or second-line medical therapies was comparable between controlled and uncontrolled patients (p = 1.000), and the yearly cost/patient did not significantly differ between the two groups (€6936 vs €6680; p = 0.829). Follow-up duration was significantly longer in controlled patients compared to the uncontrolled ones (8.7 vs 3.5 years; p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Direct costs for the management of acromegaly have a significant burden on the healthcare systems. However, more than 80% of our patients reached biochemical control using multimodal approaches. Treatment modalities and yearly costs did not significantly differ between controlled and uncontrolled patients, while follow-up length represented a major determinant of biochemical outcome.

Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions

Peptide drug development has made great progress in the last decade thanks to new production, modification, and analytic technologies. Peptides have been produced and modified using both chemical and biological methods, together with novel design and delivery strategies, which have helped to overcome the inherent drawbacks of peptides and have allowed the continued advancement of this field. A wide variety of natural and modified peptides have been obtained and studied, covering multiple therapeutic areas. This review summarizes the efforts and achievements in peptide drug discovery, production, and modification, and their current applications. We also discuss the value and challenges associated with future developments in therapeutic peptides.

Consensus on diagnosis and management of Cushing's disease: a guideline update

Cushing's disease requires accurate diagnosis, careful treatment selection, and long-term management to optimise patient outcomes. The Pituitary Society convened a consensus workshop comprising more than 50 academic researchers and clinical experts to discuss the application of recent evidence to clinical practice. In advance of the virtual meeting, data from 2015 to present about screening and diagnosis; surgery, medical, and radiation therapy; and disease-related and treatment-related complications of Cushing's disease summarised in recorded lectures were reviewed by all participants. During the meeting, concise summaries of the recorded lectures were presented, followed by small group breakout discussions. Consensus opinions from each group were collated into a draft document, which was reviewed and approved by all participants. Recommendations regarding use of laboratory tests, imaging, and treatment options are presented, along with algorithms for diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and management of Cushing's disease. Topics considered most important to address in future research are also identified.

Cognitive Functioning and Cortical Brain Thickness in Acromegaly Patients: A Pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive effects in acromegaly patients are poorly understood and the mechanisms involved are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cognitive function, depression, and quality of life of acromegaly patients treated with pegvisomant versus somatostatin analogues (SRLs) and to analyze the effect of the different treatments on cognition and possible structural brain changes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 23 acromegaly patients divided into two groups according to treatment modality: One group of 9 patients treated with pegvisomant and another group of 14 patients treated with SRLs. All participants underwent blood analysis, neuropsychological tests, depression tests, quality of life assessment, and 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences between groups in the neuropsychological tests, depression or quality of life; nor in the whole-brain cortical thickness. In the SRL group, the volume of the thalamus correlated positively with executive function, a correlation not found in the pegvisomant group. In addition, the pegvisomant group had significantly higher levels of insulin than the SRL group.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, in this pilot study, the type of pharmacological treatment in patients with acromegaly and good glycemic control did not influence the cognitive function and cortical brain thickness. However, pegvisomant could play a neuroprotective role on the thalamus that will have to be demonstrated with larger samples in future studies.

Pegvisomant treatment in acromegaly in clinical practice: Final results of the French ACROSTUDY (312 patients)

OBJECTIVE

We report the final analysis of the French ACROSTUDY, using data revised and enriched since the 2013 interim analysis. Our objective was to validate the use of pegvisomant (PEGV) in the treatment of acromegaly and to determine efficacy and safety.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with acromegaly treated with PEGV and followed up for at least 5 years were included. Eighty-eight investigators from 62 clinical centers in France included patients from April 2007 to April 2014. PEGV dose and administration frequency were determined by the physicians, based on their clinical evaluation and local habits. No additional examinations beyond those performed in normal follow-up were required. Minimum recommended follow-up included check-ups at treatment initiation, 6 months, 12 months and then annually.

RESULTS

In total, 312 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 46.1±14.3 years at introduction of PEGV. Median PEGV treatment duration was 6.3 years and median follow-up was 5.6 years. Median dose at initiation was 10mg/day. The percentages of patients with IGF-1 ≤ ULN (upper limit of normal) were 10% (n=300) at baseline, 54% at 6 months (n=278), and 61.7% (n=253) at 2 years, then stabilizing at 64.4% (n=180) at 5 years. Mean PEGV dose was 17.4±11.7mg in patients with controlled disease versus 21.1±17.3mg in those without control at 5 years. At 5 years, 21.8% of patients (54/248) were receiving >30mg PEGV per day. In patients with at least one pituitary imaging procedure during the 5-year follow-up (n=292), the most recent image showed stable tumor volume in 212 subjects (72.6%), increased volume in 13 (4.5%), and decreased volume in 30 (10.3%). No PEGV treatments were permanently discontinued due to transaminase elevation. There were no cases of liver failure.

CONCLUSION

The French ACROSTUDY showed normalization of IGF-1 levels in 64.4% of a real-life cohort of patients, mostly with uncontrolled disease despite multiple prior therapies. Long-term follow-up showed a sustained effectiveness and good long-term safety.

Machine Learning-based Prediction Model for Treatment of Acromegaly With First-generation Somatostatin Receptor Ligands

CONTEXT

Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular machine learning (ML), may be used to deeply analyze biomarkers of response to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) in the treatment of acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a prediction model of therapeutic response of acromegaly to fg-SRL.

METHODS

Patients with acromegaly not cured by primary surgical treatment and who had adjuvant therapy with fg-SRL for at least 6 months after surgery were included. Patients were considered controlled if they presented growth hormone (GH) <1.0 ng/mL and normal age-adjusted insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I levels. Six AI models were evaluated: logistic regression, k-nearest neighbor classifier, support vector machine, gradient-boosted classifier, random forest, and multilayer perceptron. The features included in the analysis were age at diagnosis, sex, GH, and IGF-I levels at diagnosis and at pretreatment, somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and 5 (SST2 and SST5) protein expression and cytokeratin granulation pattern (GP).

RESULTS

A total of 153 patients were analyzed. Controlled patients were older (P = .002), had lower GH at diagnosis (P = .01), had lower pretreatment GH and IGF-I (P < .001), and more frequently harbored tumors that were densely granulated (P = .014) or highly expressed SST2 (P < .001). The model that performed best was the support vector machine with the features SST2, SST5, GP, sex, age, and pretreatment GH and IGF-I levels. It had an accuracy of 86.3%, positive predictive value of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 87.5%.

CONCLUSION

We developed a ML-based prediction model with high accuracy that has the potential to improve medical management of acromegaly, optimize biochemical control, decrease long-term morbidities and mortality, and reduce health services costs.

Revisiting the Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Measurement After Surgical Treatment of Acromegaly

CONTEXT

In the management of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has been the gold standard not only for diagnoses but also for the determination of biochemical remission. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an essential biomarker, although it should be adjusted for both age and sex.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated whether IGF-1 levels could serve as a reliable alternative to an OGTT for disease monitoring after the surgical treatment of acromegaly. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 320 patients who underwent surgical resection of their GH-secreting pituitary tumors at the Severance hospital. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to validate the accuracy of IGF-1 levels for the assessment of remission. In addition, regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with discrepancy between OGTT and IGF-1 levels.

RESULTS

Except for 1 week after surgery, ROC analyses showed an area under the curve of greater than 0.8 for IGF-1 at all time points. Of 320 patients, 270 achieved endocrine remission after surgery alone. Among these patients, IGF-1 levels were normalized in 250 patients. The mean duration from surgery to IGF-1 normalization was 4.7 months. Regression analyses demonstrated that risk of failed IGF-1 normalization was increased by 3.1-fold when the tumor invaded the cavernous sinus and increased by 9.0-fold in patients with incomplete tumor removal.

CONCLUSION

IGF-1 level is a reliable alternative to OGTT and plays a valuable role in monitoring acromegaly status.

Expression of Transforming Growth Factor β1, Smad3, and Phospho-Smad3 in Somatotropinomas and Their Relationship to Tumor Behavior

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and phospho-Smad3 (p-Smad3) in the invasion of somatotropinomas.

METHODS

In total, 45 somatotropinomas were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for the first time between 2011 and 2015 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. The expression of TGF-β1, Smad3, and p-Smad3 was examined by western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry in somatotropinomas, and factors correlated with tumor invasion were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 13 invasive somatotropinomas and 32 noninvasive somatotropinomas were enrolled in the study. TGF-β1 protein (P < 0.01) and mRNA (P < 0.01) levels were significantly less in the invasive somatotropinomas than noninvasive somatotropinomas. There was no significant difference in Smad3 protein level or Smad3 mRNA level between invasive somatotropinomas and noninvasive somatotropinomas. However, the p-Smad3 protein level was significantly less in the invasive somatotropinomas than noninvasive somatotropinomas (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis demonstrated that TGF-β1 (P < 0.01) and p-Smad3 scores (P < 0.01) were associated with invasion. In multivariate analysis, p-Smad3 scores remained a significantly independent predictor of invasion (odds ratio 0.897, 95% confidence interval 0.834-0.964, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Low expression of p-Smad3 is correlated with invasion of somatotropinomas.

Effects of resistance training on muscle strength, insulin-like growth factor-1, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in healthy elderly subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Findings regarding the effects of resistance training (RT) on muscle strength, serum level of IGF-1, and its binding proteins are contradictory. To resolve this contradiction, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of RT on muscle strength, the levels of serum IGF-1, and IGF-binding protein-3 in the elderly and aged.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases and reference lists of included studies were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing subjects who underwent RT and control individuals up to May 15, 2020. This study was performed following the Preferred Items for Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We identified and analyzed 11 eligible trials in this meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Pooled data displayed an overall significant elevation in IGF-1 (mean difference (MD): 17.34 ng/ml; 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.23, 27.46) and in muscle strength in leg press (SMD: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.30, 1.34) and bench press (SMD: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.42, 1.23) following RT. By contrast, the pooled estimate showed a non-significant elevation in IGFBP-3 (MD: 0.13 ng/ml; 95% CI: - 39.39, 39.65). Subgroup analysis revealed that the elevation in serum IGF-1 levels after RT was significant only in women (MD: 19.30 ng/ml); moreover, it increased after intervention durations of both > 12 weeks (MD: 21.98 ng/ml) and of ≤ 12 weeks (MD: 15.31 ng/ml).

CONCLUSION

RT was associated with elevated muscle strength. Moreover, RT was correlated with increased serum levels of IGF-1 among women and among those who received the training for ≤ 12 weeks or > 12 weeks. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the impact of RT on IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and muscle strength.

COVID-19 and the pituitary

BACKGROUND

Despite COVID-19 being identified as severe respiratory viral infection, progressively many relevant endocrine manifestations have been reported greatly contributing to the severity of the clinical presentation. Systemic involvement in COVID-19 is due to the ubiquitous expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, responsible for the entry in the cells of SARS-CoV-2, Several reports in humans and animal models showed a significant ACE2 mRNA expression in hypothalamus and pituitary cells. Moreover, higher mortality and poorer outcomes have been widely described in COVID-19 patients with obesity, diabetes and vertebral fractures, which are all highly prevalent in subjects with pituitary dysfunctions.

AIM

To review the main endocrine manifestations of COVID-19 with their possible implications for pituitary diseases, the possible direct and indirect involvement of the pituitary gland in COVID-19, the impact of COVID-19 on the management of established pituitary diseases which can be already at increased risk for worse outcomes and on neurosurgical activities as well as vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review underlines that there could be a specific involvement of the pituitary gland which fits into a progressively shaping endocrine phenotype of COVID-19. Moreover, the care for pituitary diseases need to continue despite the restrictions due to the emergency. Several pituitary diseases, such as hypopituitarism and Cushing disease, or due to frequent comorbidities such as diabetes may be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 in affected patients. There is the urgent need to collect in international multicentric efforts data on all these aspects of the pituitary involvement in the pandemic in order to issue evidence driven recommendations for the management of pituitary patients in the persistent COVID-19 emergency.

Octreotide and Pasireotide Combination Treatment in Somatotroph Tumor Cells: Predominant Role of SST2 in Mediating Ligand Effects

Simple Summary

First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands, such as octreotide, are the first-line medical therapy in acromegaly. Octreotide shows preferential binding for somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SST₂), while the second-generation ligand, pasireotide, has high affinity for multiple SSTs. We aimed to elucidate whether pasireotide acts via other receptors than SST₂ in somatotroph tumors, and to investigate the potential role of the combination therapy octreotide plus pasireotide. We found that octreotide and pasireotide are superimposable in reducing GH secretion in cultured somatotroph tumor cells, as well as in inhibiting cell proliferation and intracellular pathway activity in rat GH4C1 cells (a model of somatotroph tumors). We did not find any additive/synergistic effect for the combination treatment. Furthermore, we observed that co-incubation with a SST₂-selective antagonist reversed the inhibitory effect of both compounds. Therefore, the two drugs act mainly via SST₂ in somatotroph tumor cells, and their combination is not superior to single agent treatment.

Abstract

First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs), such as octreotide (OCT), represent the first-line medical therapy in acromegaly. Fg-SRLs show a preferential binding affinity for somatostatin receptor subtype-2 (SST₂), while the second-generation ligand, pasireotide (PAS), has high affinity for multiple SSTs (SST₅ > SST₂ > SST₃ > SST₁). Whether PAS acts via SST₂ in somatotroph tumors, or through other SSTs (e.g., SST₅), is a matter of debate. In this light, the combined treatment OCT+PAS could result in additive/synergistic effects. We evaluated the efficacy of OCT and PAS (alone and in combination) on growth hormone (GH) secretion in primary cultures from human somatotroph tumors, as well as on cell proliferation, intracellular signaling and receptor trafficking in the rat GH4C1 cell line. The results confirmed the superimposable efficacy of OCT and PAS in reducing GH secretion (primary cultures), cell proliferation, cAMP accumulation and intracellular [Ca²⁺] increase (GH4C1 cells), without any additive effect observed for OCT+PAS. In GH4C1 cells, co-incubation with a SST₂-selective antagonist reversed the inhibitory effect of OCT and PAS on cell proliferation and cAMP accumulation, while both compounds resulted in a robust internalization of SST₂ (but not SST₅). In conclusion, OCT and PAS seem to act mainly through SST₂ in somatotroph tumor cells in vitro, without inducing any additive/synergistic effect when tested in combination.

Prognostic value of nadir GH levels for long-term biochemical remission or recurrence in surgically treated acromegaly

CONTEXT

Outcome of acromegaly surgery is assessed by IGF-1 and glucose-suppressed GH, but whether the latter provides additional clinically relevant information when IGF-1 is normal is unclear. The role of GH suppression testing after surgery requires clarification.

METHODS

We studied 97 acromegaly patients with normal IGF-1 after surgery by measuring GH after oral glucose longitudinally, initially at ≥ 3 months after surgery and repeated one or more times ≥ 1 year later. Nadir GH was categorized as normal or abnormal relative to the 97.5th percentile of nadir GH in 100 healthy subjects, which were ≤ 0.14 µg/L (DSL IRMA) or ≤ 0.15 µg/L(IDS iSYS). Signs and symptoms scores and insulin resistance were followed longitudinally.

RESULTS

Of 68 patients with initial normal GH suppression 63 (93%) remained in remission and of 29 with initial abnormal GH suppression, 9 (31%) recurred. Recurrence was more common in patients with abnormal suppression (P < 0.001). A total of 14 patients recurred, including 5 with normal GH suppression progressing to abnormal and then recurrence. Overall, serial signs and symptoms and insulin resistance assessments did not identify patients with abnormal suppression or recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Risk of recurrence after surgery is increased for patients with a normal IGF-1 level, but abnormal GH suppression. We newly find, using both our and others' cut-offs, that while normal suppression predicts long-term remission in most patients, some can progress from normal to abnormal suppression and then recurrence after many years of follow up. Nadir GH levels are of prognostic value in acromegaly patients with normal IGF-1 levels after surgery.

Discordant GH and IGF-1 Results in Treated Acromegaly: Impact of GH Cutoffs and Mean Values Assessment

CONTEXT

Discordant growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) values are frequent in acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of different GH cutoffs on discordance rate. To investigate whether the mean of consecutive GH measurements impacts discordance rate when matched to the last available IGF-1 value.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Referral center for pituitary diseases.

PATIENTS

Ninety acromegaly patients with at least 3 consecutive evaluations for GH and IGF-1 using the same assay in the same laboratory (median follow-up 13 years).

INTERVENTIONS

Multimodal treatment of acromegaly.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Single fasting GH (GHf) and IGF-1 (IGF-1f). Mean of 3 GH measurements (GHm), collected during consecutive routine patients' evaluations.

RESULTS

At last evaluation GHf values were 1.99 ± 2.79 µg/L and age-adjusted IGF-1f was 0.86 ± 0.44 × upper limit of normality (mean ± SD). The discordance rate using GHf was 52.2% (cutoff 1 µg/L) and 35.6% (cutoff 2.5 µg/L) (P = 0.025). "High GH" discordance was more common for GHf <1.0 µg/L, while "high IGF-1" was predominant for GHf <2.5 µg/L (P < 0.0001). Using GHm mitigated the impact of GH cutoffs on discordance (GHm <1.0 µg/L: 43.3%; GHm <2.5 µg/L: 38.9%; P = 0.265). At receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, both GHf and GHm were poor predictors of IGF-1f normalization (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.611 and AUC = 0.645, respectively). The prevalence of disease-related comorbidities did not significantly differ between controlled, discordant, and active disease patients.

DISCUSSION

GH/IGF-1 discordance strongly depends on GH cutoffs. The use of GHm lessen the impact of GH cutoffs. Measurement of fasting GH levels (both GHf and GHm) is a poor predictor of IGF-1f normalization in our cohort.

Results from ACROCOVID: an international survey on the care of acromegaly during the COVID-19 era

With most global healthcare resources focused on COVID-19, altered resource allocation is disrupting the continuum of care for chronic endocrine conditions, including acromegaly. In order to assess the effects of COVID-19 on care of patients with acromegaly, we conducted an international online survey of endocrinologists. The questionnaire was drafted by a Steering Committee of acromegaly experts and covered both respondent demographics, contact and communication with patients, and patient care. Respondent awareness was generated through social media campaigns and the survey completed online using Google forms. The majority of endocrinologists who responded (N = 84) were based in Europe (67.9%) and were female (58.3%). Slightly more than half of respondents worked in a specialized pituitary center (52.4%) and a large minority cared for more than 50 acromegaly patients (47.6%). Most respondents (85.7%) indicated surgery was their first-line treatment, with only 14.3% indicating medical therapy as a first-choice treatment option. One-third (33.3%) of respondents reported having delayed a planned surgery due to a lack of COVID-19 testing provision and 54.8% due to a lack of surgical provision; 19.1% indicated that a lack of personal protective equipment had reduced their ability to treat patients with acromegaly. Just 21.4% of respondents reported no negative effects from the pandemic on diagnostic practice patterns, and just 19.1% reported no negative effect on patient follow-up practices. Many respondents (55.9%) indicated that remote methods had improved their ability to communicate with their patients and 69.0% indicated that they would continue to use methods of consultation necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is substantially affecting the care of acromegaly. However, these results also suggest that endocrinologists are embracing aspects of the 'new normal' to create a novel continuum of care better suited to the presumed post-COVID-19 environment. The goal of these changes must be both to improve care while shielding patients from more severe involvement in concomitant acute illnesses such COVID-19.

Pilot study assessing the use of cabergoline for the treatment of cats with hypersomatotropism and diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

An affordable and effective treatment is needed to manage feline hypersomatotropism. The aim of this study was to assess whether treatment with oral cabergoline for 90 days in cats with hypersomatotropism and diabetes mellitus improved diabetic and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) control.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort non-blinded pilot study enrolling client-owned cats with spontaneously occurring diabetes mellitus and hypersomatotropism. Cats received oral cabergoline (5-10 µg/kg q24h) for 90 consecutive days. Serum IGF-1 and fructosamine concentrations were measured on days 1, 30 and 90. Quality of life was determined using the DIAQoL-pet questionnaire on days 1 and 90.

RESULTS

Nine cats were enrolled and eight completed the study. There was no significant change in the following: IGF-1 (day 1 median 2001 ng/ml [range 890-2001 ng/ml]; day 30 median 2001 ng/ml [range 929-2001 ng/ml]; day 90 median 1828 ng/ml [range 1035-2001 ng/ml]; χ2(2) = 0.667, P = 0.805); fructosamine (day 1 median 499 µmol/l [range 330-887 µmol/l], day 30 median 551 µmol/l [range 288-722 µmol/l], day 90 median 503 [range 315-851 µmol/l]; χ2(2) = 0.581, P = 0.764); or DIAQoL-pet score (median on day 1 -2.79 [range -4.62 to -0.28], median on day 90 -3.24 [range -4.41 to -0.28]; P = 0.715). There was a significant change of insulin dose (χ2(2) = 8.667, P = 0.008) with cats receiving higher insulin doses at day 90 compared with day 1 (median on day 1 was 0.98 [range 0.63-1.49] and median on day 90 was 1.56 [range 0.49-2.55] units/kg q12h; P = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Cabergoline did not improve diabetic control or normalise insulin-like growth factor concentration, or improve patient quality of life.

A Pituitary Society update to acromegaly management guidelines

Guidelines and consensus statements ensure that physicians managing acromegaly patients have access to current information on evidence-based treatments to optimize outcomes. Given significant novel recent advances in understanding acromegaly natural history and individualized therapies, the Pituitary Society invited acromegaly experts to critically review the current literature in the context of Endocrine Society guidelines and Acromegaly Consensus Group statements. This update focuses on how recent key advances affect treatment decision-making and outcomes, and also highlights the likely role of recently FDA-approved therapies as well as novel combination therapies within the treatment armamentarium.

Pegvisomant in combination or pegvisomant alone after failure of somatostatin analogs in acromegaly patients: an observational French ACROSTUDY cohort study

OBJECTIVE

After surgery, when somatostatin analogs (SAs) do not normalise IGF-I, pegvisomant (PEG) is indicated. Our aim was to define the medical reasons for the treatment of patients with PEG as monotherapy (M) or combined with SA, either as primary bitherapy, PB (PEG is secondarily introduced after SA) or as secondary bitherapy, SB (SAs secondarily introduced after PEG).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed French data from ACROSTUDY.

RESULTS

167, 88 and 57 patients were treated with M, PB or SB, respectively, during a median time of 80, 42 and 70 months. The median PEG dose was respectively 15, 10 and 20 mg. Before PEG, the mean IGF-I level did not differ between M and PB but the proportion of patients with suprasellar tumour extension was higher in PB group (67.5% vs. 44.4%, P = 0.022). SB regimen was used preferentially in patients with tumour increase and IGF-I level difficult to normalise under PEG. In both secondary regimens, the decrease of the frequency of PEG's injections, compared to monotherapy was confirmed. However, the mean weekly dose of PEG between M and PB remained the same.

CONCLUSIONS

The medical rationale for continuing SAs rather than switching to PEG alone in patients who do not normalise IGF-I under SAs was a tumour concern with suprasellar extension and tumour shrinkage under SA. A potential explanation for introducing SA in association with PEG appears to be a tumour enlargement and difficulties to normalise IGF-I levels under PEG given alone. In both regimens, the prospect of lowering PEG injection frequency favoured the choice.

Resistance to Dopamine Agonists in Pituitary Tumors: Molecular Mechanisms

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) are commonly benign tumors accounting for 10-25% of intracranial tumors. Prolactin-secreting adenomas represent the most predominant type of all PitNET and for this subtype of tumors, the medical therapy relies on the use of dopamine agonists (DAs). DAs yield an excellent therapeutic response in reducing tumor size and hormonal secretion targeting the dopamine receptor type 2 (D2DR) whose higher expression in prolactin-secreting adenomas compared to other PitNET is now well established. Moreover, although DAs therapy does not represent the first-line therapy for other PitNET, off-label use of DAs is considered in PitNET expressing D2DR. Nevertheless, DAs primary or secondary resistance, occurring in a subset of patients, may involve several molecular mechanisms, presently not fully elucidated. Dopamine receptors (DRs) expression is a prerequisite for a proper DA function in PitNET and several molecular events may negatively modify DR membrane expression, through the DRs down-regulation and intracellular trafficking, and DR signal transduction pathway. The current mini-review will summarise the presently known molecular events that underpin the unsuccessful therapy with DAs.

Burden of acromegaly in the United States: increased health services utilization, location of care, and costs of care

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on the utilization and healthcare costs among patients with acromegaly. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of acromegaly on healthcare utilization and costs by locations of care (LoC).

METHODS

Patients with acromegaly and controls were identified from an analysis of drug and medical claims filed from January 2010 to April 2019 from a US employer database. Each patient with acromegaly was matched with 20 random controls (without acromegaly) selected from the database. Claims were tracked for 12 months postdiagnosis (or matched date for controls). Outcomes by LoC, including costs, services, and likelihood of use, were compared using two-stage regression models or logistic regression models, controlling for demographic and job-related variables, and Charlson comorbidity index scores.

RESULTS

Claims from 60 patients with acromegaly and 1,200 controls were analyzed. Compared with the control group, patients with acromegaly had significantly higher likelihoods of receiving care in a physician's office [odds ratio > 1,000], inpatient [OR = 8.010], outpatient [OR = 12.656], laboratory [OR = 3.681], and 'other' locations [OR = 4.033] (all p < .001), except in an emergency department (ED). Significantly more services were performed at each LoC for those with acromegaly (p < .01) but not in an ED. Total costs were more than 5-fold higher for the acromegaly cohort compared with controls (p < .05). Costs by LoC were consistently higher (p < .001) for patients with acromegaly vs. controls, with mean annual cost differences greatest in outpatient hospital/clinic ($9,611 vs $1,355), inpatient ($8,646 vs $739), physicians' office ($4,762 vs $1,301), other ($2,001 vs $367), and laboratory ($508 vs $66). ED-related treatment costs were not significantly different between cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with matched controls, patients with acromegaly were more likely to utilize healthcare services in nearly all LoCs and accrue higher expenditures at each LoC, with the exception of ED services.

Does Diet Have a Role in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease?

The aging process causes many changes to the brain and is a major risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Despite an already vast amount of research on AD, a greater understanding of the disease's pathology and therapeutic options are desperately needed. One important distinction that is also in need of further study is the ability to distinguish changes to the brain observed in early stages of AD vs. changes that occur with normal aging. Current FDA-approved therapeutic options for AD patients have proven to be ineffective and indicate the need for alternative therapies. Aging interventions including alterations in diet (such as caloric restriction, fasting, or methionine restriction) have been shown to be effective in mediating increased health and lifespan in mice and other model organisms. Because aging is the greatest risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, certain dietary interventions should be explored as they have the potential to act as a future treatment option for AD patients.

Multicenter, Observational Study of Lanreotide Autogel for the Treatment of Patients with Acromegaly in Routine Clinical Practice in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Evidence from controlled trials has shown that lanreotide autogel is effective in achieving biochemical and symptom control in patients with acromegaly. However, it is important to better understand the real-world patient population receiving lanreotide autogel treatment.

METHODS

In this non-interventional study the long-term treatment response to lanreotide autogel in adult patients with acromegaly from office-based centers or clinics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland was studied. Assessments included growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I levels, symptoms, quality of life, lanreotide plasma levels and tumor somatostatin receptor subtype expression. The primary endpoint was achievement of full biochemical control, defined as growth hormone ≤2.5 µg/L and insulin-like growth factor I normalization at month 12.

RESULTS

76 patients were enrolled from 21 sites. 7/51 (13.7%) patients of the efficacy population had full biochemical control at baseline, 15/33 (45.5%) at month 12 and 10/26 (38.5%) at month 24 of treatment. At 12 months of treatment higher rates of biochemical control were observed in the following subgroups: older patients (>53 years [median]), females, treatment-naïve patients, and patients with a time since diagnosis of longer than 1.4 years (median). No clinically relevant differences in acromegaly symptoms or quality of life scores were observed. Median fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels remained unchanged throughout the study. No new safety signals were observed. Overall tolerability of treatment with lanreotide autogel was judged by 80.8% of the enrolled patients at month 12 as 'very good' or 'good'.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with lanreotide autogel in a real-world setting showed long-term effectiveness and good tolerability in patients with acromegaly.

Resistance training effect on serum insulin-like growth factor 1 in the serum: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The resistance exercise has drawn considerable attention to the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the serum. However, the relationship between resistance exercise and the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the serum is conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate this relationship.

METHODS

A systematic literature search up to May 2020 was performed and 22 studies were detected with 680 subjects. They reported relationships between resistance exercise and the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the serum. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated comparing the resistance exercise and the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the serum using the continuous method with a random or fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Significantly higher insulin-like growth factor 1 was observed in subjects performing resistance training for less than 16 weeks (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.49-5.57, p<.001); subjects performing resistance training for more than 16 weeks (OR, 11.55; 95% CI, 6.58-16.52, p<.001); subjects older than 60 years (OR, 11.88; 95% CI, 9.84-13.93, p<.001); females (OR, 3.87; 95% CI, 2.26-5.49, p<.001) and males (OR, 16.82; 95% CI, 7.29-26.35, p<.001). However, significantly lower insulin-like growth factor 1 was observed in subjects younger than 60 years (OR, -4.80; 95% CI, -7.74 to -1.86, p=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

However, the resistance exercise significantly increases insulin-like growth factor 1 in subjects older than 60 years, both males and females, and subjects performing resistance exercise for all any period. Surprisingly, resistance exercise significantly decreases insulin-like growth factor 1 in subjects younger than 60 years. This relationship forces us to recommend the resistance exercise to improve insulin-like growth factor 1 in serum.

Effectiveness of lanreotide autogel 120 mg at extended dosing intervals for acromegaly

PURPOSE

Recent data indicate that extended dosing intervals (EDIs) with lanreotide autogel 120 mg are effective and well-received among patients with acromegaly who have achieved biochemical control with monthly injections of long-acting somatostatin analogues (SSAs). We further evaluated the effectiveness of lanreotide autogel 120 mg delivered at EDIs (>4 weeks) in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, multicentre, observational study conducted to determine the effectiveness-measured by control of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-of lanreotide autogel 120 mg at dosing intervals >4 weeks for ≥6 months in selected patients with acromegaly treated in routine clinical practice (NCT02807233). Secondary assessments included control of growth hormone (GH) levels, treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) using validated questionnaires (EQ-5D, AcroQoL, and TSQM-9). Patients who received radiotherapy within the last 6 months were excluded.

RESULTS

Among 109 patients evaluated, mean (SD) age was 59.1 (13.2) years. IGF-1 values were normal (mean [SD]: 175.0 [74.5], 95% CI: 160.8 -189.1) in 91.7% of cases and normal in 91.4% of patients without previous radiotherapy treatment (n = 81). GH levels were ≤2.5 and ≤1 ng/mL, respectively, in 80.6% and 58.3%. Most patients were treated either every 5-6 (57.8%) or 7-8 weeks (38.5%), with 2.8% treated greater than every 8 weeks. The mean AcroQoL score was 63.0 (20.1). The mean global treatment satisfaction score (TSQM-9) was 75.1 (16.6). Treatment adherence (defined as no missed injections) was 94.5%.

CONCLUSION

Lanreotide autogel 120 mg at intervals of >4 weeks provided IGF-1 control in more than 90% of patients with acromegaly. Treatment satisfaction and adherence were good. These findings support use of extended dosing intervals in patients who have achieved good biochemical control with long-acting SSAs.

The significance of estrogen receptors in acromegaly: Are they useful as predictors of prognosis and therapy regimen?

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we considered to assess the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) and the expression of estrogen receptor genes (ESR) in the surgical tissue samples of acromegaly patients and the control group patients with nonfunctioning adenoma and their association with disease activity. We also aimed to determine the significance of ER positivity in acromegaly patients and to find out whether it carries a potential to be used as a predictor of prognosis and therapy regimen in the future.

DESIGN

This study was conducted on a total of 67 patients over 18 years of age. The study group consisted of 34 patients with acromegaly and 33 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. The pre- and post-operative basal pituitary hormone levels and magnetic resonance images (MRI) of all patients, as well as their remission status of all acromegaly patients were evaluated. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining procedures for ER-α were performed on surgical tissue samples. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method was used to determine the levels of ESR1 and ESR2 gene expressions.

RESULTS

We found that IHC staining for ER-α was positive in 31.3% and 45.5% of the patients with acromegaly and nonfunctioning adenoma respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of ER-α positivity, ER-α immunoreactivity score and ESR1/ESR2 gene expression levels among the study groups (p > .05). Nevertheless, the expression of ESR1 gene was found to be 0.26 times more, and the ESR2 gene to be 0.11 times less in the acromegaly group compared to those of the nonfunctioning adenoma group. Additionally, we detected the positivity of ER-α only in acromegaly patients who were in remission. An inverse association was found between the pre-operative insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and the expressions of ESR1/ESR2 gene in acromegaly patients. So these results indicated that the high ESR1 and ESR2 gene expressions in acromegaly patients are associated to the decrease of pre-operative IGF-1 values. Also an inverse association was found between the pre-operative adenoma volume and ESR1 Ct values, means that increase in ESR1 gene expression is associated to the decrease of adenoma volume.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results may suggest the use of these parameters as useful prognostic markers because all ER-positive acromegaly patients were in remission and the high ESR1 and ESR2 gene expressions in acromegaly patients is associated to the decrease of pre-operative IGF-1 values. Our results need to be supported by further studies.