Endocrine Abstracts

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...

Introduction: Regimens for pre-operative α and β-blockade for patients with secretory phaeochromocytomas/paragangliomas vary widely between centres. The worldwide lack of availability of intravenous phenoxybenzamine (Goldshield) has removed a useful tool in the management of phaeochromocytoma crisis and has necessitated a change in our institution’s routine pre-operative strategy. We compare pre, peri and post-operative surrogate measures of blockade in a cohort...

Background: Pituitary macroadenomas are an uncommon cause of Cushing’s disease. They present with a higher cortisol burden, are more aggressive and harder to cure and manage than microadenomas.Aims: To review the demographics, clinical features, biochemistry, radiology and required treatment modalities of a single-centre case series of corticotroph macroadenomas.Methods: Retrospective analysis and review of the case records of...

Background: Leptin is an important regulator of the immune response. Therapeutics that modulate leptin signalling are considered to be a potential targets in a number of immune related conditions. The role of leptin antagonists to suppress the immune system, slowing the progression of autoimmune diseases is a widely discussed idea. However, leptin agonists may also be useful to up-regulate the immune response during malnutrition. The aim of this project was to develop long-las...

Introduction: RAMPs (receptor activity-modifying proteins) are single-pass transmembrane accessory proteins required for appropriate signalling of the G-protein coupled receptors; CRLR (Calcitonin receptor like receptor) and CTR (Calcitonin receptor). There are three forms of human RAMPs known as, RAMP1, 2 and 3. RAMP3 heterodimerises with CRLR or CTR to form a high affinity receptor for the peptide hormones adrenomedullin and amylin, respectively. However, the exact mechanism...

A 37-year-old woman, 30 weeks pregnant, presented with palpitations and abdominal cramps. Ultrasound demonstrated a supra-renal abnormality and MRI showed a 10 cm heterogeneous left adrenal mass. For five years she had experienced episodes of palpitations, shaking, sweating and chest tightness. She was investigated by a neurologist and diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. During pregnancy the frequency of episodes increased. Lamotrigine was started, but at each dose increase...

Background: Leptin has multiple functions including modulating energy homeostasis and the immune response. Leptin is an important target for therapy to modulate the immune response in several autoimmune diseases. Although the structure of leptin is known, that of its receptor remains unsolved. The aim of this project was to express and purify the extracellular domain the leptin receptor (ObR) in order to carry out functional and crystallisation studies to elucidate the mechani...

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...