Endocrine Abstracts

The mTOR and IGF/insulin pathways are frequently dysregulated in HCC. Antitumoral activity of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) has been demonstrated in experimental models but in early clinical studies mTORi alone have shown modest antitumoral activity. IGF/insulin-dependent Akt activation, via IGF1R and IR, has been suggested as potential mechanism for mTORi resistance. This study aimed at evaluating the expression of mTOR and IGF/insulin pathway components and the effects of mTORi al...

Life-long glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is needed in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in order to replace cortisol deficiency and to control ACTH and consequently androgen levels. Therefore, patients with CAH tend to have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), probably due to cortisol overexposure, caused by multiple daily doses of conventional GCs, unable to mimic cortisol circadian rhythm. The current study aimed at i...

Introduction: Recent data suggest that metformin has antineoplastic properties in different type of cancer. Effects of metformin have never been investigated in neuroendocrine tumors (NET).We aim to determine the role of metformine on recurrence-free survival (RFS) in NET patients.Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted comparing NET patients with recent diagnosis (<3 year) of diabetes mellitus (with HbA1c...

Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Hyperprolactinemia is reportedly associated with impaired metabolic profile, particularly in patients with concomitant hypogonadism. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of 12 and 24 month-continuous cabergoline (CAB) treatment on metabolic profile in male hyperprolactinemic patients. Thirty-two men with prolactinomas, including 22 with testosterone < 8 nmol/l (HG, 69%) and 10 with...

Background: Several evidences suggested that conventional glucocorticoids (CGCs) used as replacement treatment in adrenal insufficiency (AI) are inadequate to mimic physiological cortisol circadian rhythm (CCR), and that CCR disruption, represented by non-physiological pattern of peaks and troughs and elevated evening GC levels, might be responsible for the increased metabolic and, consequently, cardiovascular risk. It has been demonstrated that once daily dual-release-hydroco...

Obesity is caused by an imbalance between dietary energy intake and expenditure. The expression of dopamine receptors (DRs) in human adipocytes has been already demonstrated. Moreover, the effects of cabergoline, a dopamine agonist, on body weight and glucose homeostasis in obese subjects without hyperprolactinemia has already been reported. The current study investigates the effects of cabergoline on lipid accumulation and on adipogenic factors expression to better define the...

Introduction: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is the test that offers the highest diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis between pituitary and ectopic Cushng’s syndrome (CS). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of BIPSS performed in the last six years, after the change in the technical procedure with that performed in the past period in Naples centre.Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with...

Introduction: PHPT is a common endocrine disease characterized by hypercalcemia and different degree of osteoporosis and nephrolithiasis. PHPT arises in the context of an inherited disease in 5% of cases. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is the commonest cause of inherited PHPT. The main therapeutic approach for PHPT is surgery, however many patients refuse or have contraindications for surgery while others, in particular those with MEN1 PHPT, have persistent/relapsi...

Introduction: Targeted therapy with the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib is effective for treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) unresponsive to RAI. Although kinase-inhibitors (KIs) are usually well tolerated, severe and even fatal adverse events are reported. Aim of the study was to assess incidence and characteristics of fatal events in patients with RAI-refractory DTC responsive to treatment with sorafenib.Design: A retrospective analysis o...

Introduction: Paragangliomas are neuroectodermal tumors that arise from adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal ganglia and are characterized by high vascularisation. A high rate of these tumours is genetically inherited. For malignant paragangliomas, chemo- and radio-therapy are potentially effective, but tumor response is of short duration and patient prognosis is quite poor. Sunitinib is a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, targeting VEGFR1, -2, PDGFRα, -β, RET and c-Kit. Recent...