Endocrine Abstracts

Medullary thyroid cancers (MTC) account for about 5% of thyroid cancers. The biochemical hallmark of MTC is the secretion of calcitonin (CT). CT levels are both a key feature of pre-operative diagnosis and post-operative follow up. CT screening in a cohort of over 10 000 patients with thyroid nodular disease has demonstrated that a positive CT test has a higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for MTC than fine needle aspiration (FNA). They may also secrete carcinoembryo...

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 ...