Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The histologic classification of lung carcinoids (LCs) as typical (TCs) and atypical (ACs) highlights its role as major prognostic factor for these patients. However, in the absence of sensitive biomarkers to effectively predict tumor behavior, long-term imaging surveillance is recommended for disease monitoring. Limited data suggest that progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) may have diagnostic & monitoring utility in LCs.Aim(s): To ev...

Introduction: Treatment options for patients with metastatic lung carcinoids (LC) are limited. Everolimus (RAD001), an mTOR inhibitor (mTORi) which suppresses tumor cells growth & proliferation, appears to be efficient in these patients; however, it promotes autophagy, thereby paradoxically supporting tumor cell survival and development of drug-resistance. We have previously demonstrated in a BON1 pancreatic NEN model that adding chloroquine (CQ, an autophagy inhibitor) to...

Background: Data regarding the effect of gender and age on medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) presentation and prognosis is limited. Although older age and male sex were found to correlate with poorer prognosis in some studies, this correlation may reflect differences in MTC presentation between sex and age groups, or a mixture of hereditary and sporadic MTC forms.Objective: To evaluate the impact of age and sex on the presentation and outcomes of MTC.<p...

Introduction: Patients with unresectable NENs are offered a variety of non-curable therapeutic options, which eventually fail due to drug resistance. Increasing evidence suggest an anticancer trait of cannabinoids, via cellular pathways including mTOR, known to be associated with drug resistance development. Still, limited data exist on the anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids in NENs.Aims: To understand the possible anti-tumor role of the cannabinoids an...

Background: The massive use of neck sonography has led to a dramatic increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer detection, predominantly small papillary carcinomas. However, changes in the presentation and course of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) over time remain unclear.Objective: To evaluate trends in the presentation and outcomes of MTC.Methods: Patients treated for MTC at four medical centers in Israel were divided into two...

Introduction: EUS-RFA is rapidly emerging as a possible treatment alternative for patients with pNENs who are poor surgical candidates.Aim(s): To summarize our experience in terms of feasibility, safety and efficacy of EUS-RFA in a cohort of patients with functional and non-functional pNENs.Materials and methods: Retrospective case series of pNENs patients treated with EUS-RFA at two tertiary referral centers in Israel between Marc...