Endocrine Abstracts

Cushing’s Disease (CD) is a rare condition characterized by an overproduction of ACTH by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor, resulting in excess of cortisol release by the adrenal glands. Pasireotide is the pituitary-targeted drug approved to treat adult patients. Its mechanism of action seems to rely on the preferential binding to the highly expressed somatostatin receptor in corticotroph tumors, SST5. Recently, somatic mutations in the deubiquitinase USP8 gene h...

The high expression of somatostatin receptor 2 (SST2) in growth hormone (GH)-secreting tumors represents the rationale for the clinical use of somatostatin analogs (SSAs) in acromegaly. However, about one third of patients displays resistance to SSAs and, to date, the responsible molecular mechanisms are still under investigation. Recently, the cytoskeletal protein Filamin A (FLNA) and the scaffolding proteins β-arrestins have emerged as key modulators of the responsivene...

Cushing’s disease (CD) is a rare disorder of chronic hypercortisolism due to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary tumor. Pasireotide, a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin (SST) analog with high binding affinity for the predominant SST receptor in human corticotroph tumors, SST5, has been recently approved to treat adult patients for whom surgery failed or does not represent a suitable option. However, to date, the molecular predictors of antisecretor...

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that originates from parafollicular thyroid C cells and accounts for 5% -10% of thyroid cancers. In all inherited cases of MTC, and in about 40% of sporadic cases, activating mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase proto-oncogene RET are found. Constitutively active RET triggers signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, survival and motility, but the mechanisms underlying malignant transformation of C-...

Objective: Several studies reported that a long-time therapy with somatostatin analogs (SSTa) in acromegaly could induce persistent remission event after drug withdrawal. The aim of this study was to evaluate GH/IGF-I secretion after SSTa discontinuation in a series of acromegalic patients.Materials and methods: Data of 21 patients regularly referred to our Centre and previously included in a multicentre study, have been updated at the last available fol...

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is a frequent clinical condition with a prevalence of 3–15% in general population. It is defined by elevated TSH levels with normal thyroid hormones [free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3)]. Similar to prolactin, high TSH levels may be caused by macroTSH, a large molecular sized TSH with a low bioactivity. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of macroTSH in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism....

Background: In acromegalic patients, quality of life reduction and neuropsychological impairment are common, in addition to well-known complications related to the pituitary adenoma and to the GH/IGF-I excess. Acromegalic patients need a lot of outpatient visits and a multidisciplinary approach during the management of the disease and its comorbidities. Aim of the project is to analyze the role of an electronic health device (eHD) with remote monitoring in management of acrome...

Although generally benign, pituitary tumors frequently present local invasiveness that strongly reduces neurosurgery success. We recently demonstrated a role for the actin binding protein cofilin in promoting non functioning pituitary tumors invasiveness and an inhibitory effect of dopamine receptor type 2. Somatostatin (SS) receptor type 2 (SSTR2) is the main target of pharmacological therapy of GH-secreting pituitary tumors, reducing both GH secretion and cell proliferation,...

Introduction: The management of patients with adrenal incidentaloma (AI) and possible subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) is debated. This randomized study was aimed to evaluate the effects of adrenalectomy on arterial hypertension (AH).Methods: We consecutively evaluated 590 AI patients (referred to 3 Italian Centres between 06/2016 and 12/2019). Among these, 134 patients showed a possible SH (i.e. 1 mg DST between 1.8 and 5 µg/dl). Based on the excl...

Background: Patients with Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) have a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) related to a hypercoagulable state. Previous studies showed increased levels of procoagulant factors but also an elevation of some of the anticoagulants factors and fibrinolytic enzymes. Once patients achieve disease remission, there is a significant decrease of some procoagulant factors but if these alterations are completely reversible is still unclear. Compared to tradit...