Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Bronchopulmonary (BP) and gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are slow-growing tumors, which frequently express somatostatin receptors on their cell membranes. These receptors are targets for therapy with 177Lutetium-labeled somatostatin analogues.Experimental Design: Patients receive four treatments of 177Lu-DOTATATE at a dose of 7.4 GBq every 8 weeksResults: An objective resp...

According to the WHO classification system the majority of endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract (GI-NETs) are considered as being well differentiated benign or malignant tumours. Almost all GI-NETs are derived from enterochromaffin or Kulchitsky cells that can synthesize, store and secrete serotonin. The majority of these tumours are non-functioning and their presentation is non-specific. Functioning tumours, may exhibit protean clinical presentation, depending on t...

Introduction: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN) present with a fibrotic stroma which constitutes the tumor microenvironment (TME). The role played by stromal fibroblasts over the growth of PNEN and their sensitivity to the mTOR inhibitor, RAD001, are as yet unestablished.Methods: We investigated reciprocal interactions between 1) human PNEN cell lines (BON-1/QGP-1) or primary cultures of human ileal neuroendocrine neoplasm (iNEN) or PNEN, and 2)...

Background: Recent studies suggest enhanced peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism as an explanation for the changes in thyroid hormone levels in patient treated with Sorafenib.Methods: In this single centre, prospective, observational cohort study 60 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with Sorafenib. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured at baseline (time-0), at 6 weeks (time-1) and at the end of therap...

Cushing’s syndrome (CS) during pregnancy is a rare metabolic condition with only a few cases reported in the literature. Misdiagnosis of CS is common because of the overlapping features of fatigue, weight gain, striae, and emotional changes that occur during normal pregnancy. The clinical presentation together with laboratory and imaging findings help to make a diagnosis. However, changes in maternal hormones and their binding proteins complicate assessment of the normal ...

Background: We previously reported on the efficacy, safety and Quality of Life of long-acting somatostatin analogs (SSA) and (twice) weekly pegvisomant (PEG-V) in acromegaly and improvement after the addition of PEG-V to long-acting SSA.Objective: To assess the long term safety in a larger group of acromegalic patients over a larger period of time; 29.2 (1.2–57.4) months (mean (range)).Design: Pegvisomant was added to SSA mono...

Background: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to assess the use of independent injections (self/partner/home-administered) as an alternative to healthcare-setting injections for chronic diseases. The primary objective was to identify studies reporting on independent injection of somatostatin analogues (SSAs). Comparative evidence on independent injection of other medications was examined as a secondary objective.Methods: MEDLINE/Embase/t...

Background: A common request at an endocrine outpatient clinic is to rule out acromegaly in a patient with acromegaloid features. It is important to do so, since the excessive excretion of growth hormone can result in various serious comorbidities. But when growth hormone-IGF-1 axis abnormalities are excluded, the physician faces a diagnostic dilemma. Here we provide a systematic approach to these patients.Methods: We present a case series of patients vi...

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, but highly malignant endocrine tumor. Surgery is the primary choice of treatment. In case of inoperable disease or tumor recurrence, therapy with the adrenolytic drug mitotane is usually applied. Plasma mitotane concentrations of >14 mg/l (50 μM) seem required for an effect on tumor mass. Despite its clinical use, the effects of mitotane on cell proliferation and hormone production have been poorly investigated <...

Objective: To evaluate the results of the early postoperative low-dose (1 μg) ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) stimulation test in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) in order to predict long-term outcome of transsphenoidal surgery.Methods: We reviewed the serum cortisol response to 1 μg synthetic ACTH (1–24) in the second week after pituitary surgery in 40 patients with Cushing’s disease. Median follow-up was 48.5 months (range 6&#15...