Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Kinase-inhibitors (KIs) are effective for treatment of most aggressive endocrine cancers. The crucial point about treatment with KIs is that these agents are not curative and their effects are at best transitory and are always followed by a restoration of tumour growth and progression. Several retrospective and phase II studies demonstrated efficacy of both sorafenib and sunitib for treatment of iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer although results fro...

Background: Vitamin D is an important modulator of cell growth, differentiation and death in normal and neoplastic cells. Its actions are mediated by vitamin D receptor (VDR), which heterodimerizes with nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXRα). Recently, it has been suggested that vitamin D system have a role in male reproduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the VDR and RXRα localization in normal and neoplastic human male reproductive tissues.<p class="a...

Introduction: Anophthalmia/microphthalmia is a rare developmental craniofacial defect often associated to congenital hypopituitarism with GH deficiency and hypogonadism. SOX2 gene plays a key role in embryonic development regulation and heterozygous mutations of this gene, reported only in 14 patients to date, have been associated to anophthalmia/microphthalmia and congenital hypopituitarism in uo to 10% of cases. Therefore, the study of the SOX2 gene can be clinically useful ...

Introduction: Pasireotide LAR was significantly superior to octreotide LAR at providing biochemical control in a 12-month trial in 358 medically naïve patients with acromegaly. Patients with clinical benefit or GH <2.5 μg/l and IGF1≤ULN could continue therapy in the extension study.Methods: Patients entering the extension (pasireotide LAR, n=74; octreotide LAR, n=46) were followed up to month 26 (core plus extension)...

Introduction: Hyperprolactinemia is reportedly associated with an impaired metabolic profile, particularly in patients with concomitant hypogonadism. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of short (12 months) and long (60 months) treatment with cabergoline (CAB) on metabolic complications, metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence and visceral adiposity index (VAI) in hyperprolactinemic patients.Patients and methods: Seventy-one patients (51 F, 2...

Introduction: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) is associated with an impaired metabolic profile, particularly in patients with hypogonadism. This study aimed to: i) investigate the effects of short and long treatment with cabergoline (CAB) on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin sensitivity and ii) to evaluate the impact of gonadal function on metabolic changes, in male patients with HPRL.</...

Aim: To describe characteristics and outcomes of Italian patients with hypopituitarism participating in HypoCCS.Methods: Study population was stratified by max GH peak (mGHp) and BMI. Baseline variables included demographic characteristics, type of deficit, smoking habits; variables analyzed over time included weight, Framingham cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, lipids, GH dose.Results: Italian subpopulation included 342 patients ...

Introduction: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Glucocorticoids (GC) have a stimulatory effect on neutrophils and an inhibitory effect on the other leukocyte subpopulations. A potential stimulatory effect on erythropoiesis has been also hypothesized. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of pasireotide treatment on hemochrome parameters in patients with endogenous pituitary-dependent glucocorticoid excess or Cushing’s d...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor in which somatostatin receptor (sst) expression is higher for sst1 and sst5 than for sst2. This may explain why the available sst2–selective analogues do not work in these patients and why pasireotide (SOM230), a novel, multi-receptor targeted somatostatin analogue with high-binding affinity for sst1,2,3 and sst5 coul...

Introduction: Using the criterion of GH<2.5 μg/l and normalized IGF1, response rates to currently available somatostatin analogues in medically-naïve patients with acromegaly are 20–25% after 12 m. The broader somatostatin receptor binding profile of pasireotide may potentially improve response rates. This randomized, double-blind 12-m study compared pasireotide LAR with octreotide LAR.Methods: Patients with acromegaly (GH>5 μ...