Endocrine Abstracts

The cell cycle occupies a pivotal role in the control of cellular proliferation, a critical point being activation of CyclinE which is held in check by the inhibitor p27. CyclinE is targeted for degradation by the F-box protein Archipelago (Ago/Fbw7/cdc4), while p27 is exported out of the nucleus by Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1). Over-expression of CyclinE has been reported in breast cancer. We have now explored the role of Jab1 and Ago in mediating changes in...

Background: The GH/IGF-I axis has been implicated in the development of breast cancer. However the regulation of local expression of the GH/IGF-I axis in breast tissue is unknown. In vitro studies have suggested an inhibitory effect of ghrelin on the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines, although the mechanisms for this action are unknown.Aims: Using a physiologically relevant culture system for breast tissue explants, to investigate the effects of ...

Hyperparathyroidism occurs in most patients with MEN Type 1 but the association of MEN type-1 with parathyroid carcinoma has only been described previously in one patient. In this report, we describe two further cases of parathyroid carcinoma presenting in association of MEN type 1 syndrome.The first patient was a 69-year-old woman who presented with severe hyperparathyroidism and tracheal compression by a mediastinal mass which was shown histologically ...

A provisional diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with normal blood pressure and echocardiogram was made in a 58 years old man. He described ‘funny turns’ on standing during which he would become sweaty, tremulous with palpitations and headache and facial flushing preceded by pallor. The patient was otherwise fit and healthy with a BMI of 27.3 kg/m2; he used to drink about 15 pints of beer per week and smoke 11 cigarettes daily for the last 40 year...

Background: Tamoxifen is a partial estrogen agonist used to treat estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. It has been discovered however that resistance to tamoxifen develops in some cancers. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of resistance we have created a tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cell line.Aims: To develop a breast cancer cell line that is resistant to the anti-growth effects of tamoxifen.<p class="abstext...

Background: The growth hormone/ insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis has been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We have recently demonstrated the local expression of both GH and IGF-I in normal and malignant breast tissue. However, the regulation of this local GH/IGF-1 expression is unknown. Aims: (i) To quantify the mRNA levels of GHRH, ghrelin and their receptors in malignant and adjacent normal breast tissue, and (ii) to determine any cor...

Background: The growth hormone/ IGF-I axis is important in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and increased IGF-I signalling through the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) has been implicated in the development of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.Aims: To compare mRNA and protein expression of IGF-I & IGF-IR in (i) wild type (WT) and tamoxifen resistant (TR) MCF-7 breast cancer cells and (ii) breast cancer tissue from women with primary and recurrent, tamox...

We report two cases of MIBG avid secretory phaeochromocytoma in 2 middle-aged ladies. Adrenalectomy, after standard preparation, was performed successfully and histology confirmed complete excision of a phaeochromocytoma in both cases; however, there was capsular infiltration and metastasis to a neighboring lymph node in the first case. In this case, surveillance CT scans 3 and 6 months later showed left adrenal bed recurrence and rapidly growing lesions in the right lobe of t...

Background: Due to its cross-talk with estrogen receptor (ER) signalling, increased IGF-I signalling through the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) has been postulated as an important factor in the development of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.Aims: To investigate the importance of IGF-I signalling in tamoxifen resistant (TR) and wild-type (WT) MCF-7 breast cancer cells by (i) assessing cell proliferation in response to IGF-I and tamoxifen and (ii) using sma...

Introduction: The GH/IGF-I axis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and development of tamoxifen resistance. We have previously used siRNA to successfully silence the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. To further characterize the growth changes that occur when elements of the GH/IGF-I axis are disrupted we investigated the use of siRNA to cause long term silencing of IGF-IR.Methods: MCF-7 cells were cultured in phe...