Endocrine Abstracts

Self-limited delayed puberty is a condition that is frequently familial with strong genetic determinants. It has been linked to coding region sequence variation by next generation sequencing of affected individuals, identifying genetic regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pathways underlying this condition. However, the role of epigenetic modifiers of human pubertal timing is underexplored. The Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is unique as it is active ...

Background: Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are histologically identical tumours that exhibit significant clinical heterogeneity. At least 40% of PPGLs arise due to the presence of a pathogenic germline variant (PGV) in a known susceptibility gene. PGVs affecting the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDHA, SDHB, SDHC and SDHD) are the most common. Phenotypic features of PPGLs secondary to SDHB and SDHD PGVs are well...

Background: Phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are highly heritable, with 30-40% due to a germline pathogenic variant. An additional 40% of tumours will harbour a somatic variant. Understanding the variant status of a tumour enables molecular classification. Liquid biopsy offers a novel approach to non-invasive diagnostics by harnessing the ability to detect small amounts of circulating-free DNA (cfDNA) and performing genomic sequencing. There are few ...

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours, which arise from neural crest (NC)-derived structures: the adrenal medulla and the paraganglia. Around one third of PPGLs are associated with inherited cancer susceptibility genes, the highest rate among all tumour types. Currently, the only diagnostic criterion for malignant disease is the presence of metastasis and no molecular or histological features have been identified that help predict risk. A...

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours, which arise from neural crest (NC)-derived structures: the adrenal medulla and the paraganglia. Around one third of PPGLs are associated with inherited cancer susceptibility genes, the highest rate among all tumour types. Currently, the only diagnostic criterion for malignant disease is the presence of metastasis and no molecular or histological features have been identified that help predict risk. A...