Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its associate receptor CXCR7, that modulates CXCR4 function, have been associated with tumor progression and metastasis in human cancers. In ACC, Ki67 index and ENSAT stage are the most important prognostic parameters.Objective: To assess expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in adrenal cancer and correlate results with clinical outcome.Methods: CR expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry...

Introduction: Although long-term complications such as nephrocalcinosis and renal insufficiency are well-known in chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPT), standardized investigations of their prevalence and causes are still lacking.Objective: To systematically investigate the prevalence of renal calcifications and dysfunction and their predictors in a well-characterized cohort of patients with HPT.Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of co...

Introduction: Reduction of quality of life in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPT) has been reported by several studies. Additionally, self-report data point to a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in HPT compared to patients after thyroidectomy.Objectives: To characterize psychiatric diseases in a systematically reviewed cohort of patients with chronic HPT.Methods: We systematically assessed psychiatric comorbidities...

Objective: The major diagnostic problem in primary aldosteronism is the differentiation between bilateral hyperplasia and aldosterone producing adenoma which is essential for further treatment. Adrenal vein sampling is regarded as the current gold standard, however it is an invasive, highly examiner-dependent method. Molecular imaging targeting the aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) which is expressed specifically in aldosterone producing adrenal tissue may be an useful alternativ...

Adrenal crisis (AC) is a life threatening condition in chronic adrenal insufficiency (AI). Furthermore, recent data demonstrate increased mortality in this patient group.Incidence and causes of adrenal crisis as well as general morbidity and hospitalization was assessed in 472 patients in a prospective trial. Patients were contacted via mail every 6 months and in case of AC additionally by phone to evaluate the exact circumstances of AC. Criteria for AC ...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is part of the Li-Fraumeni tumour syndrome which is due to germline mutations in TP53. Recent studies demonstrate low penetrance mutations leading to later tumour manifestation. Furthermore, in ACC mutations outside the hotspot region have been found. TP53-polymorphisms have also been described to impact on p53 function. We, therefore investigated TP53 sequence alterations in a large cohort of adult patients with ACC.Method...

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare solid tumor with poor prognosis in advanced stages. The adrenolytic drug mitotane and cytotoxic chemotherapies are current treatment options with limited clinical efficacy. Animal experiments pointed to an adrenotoxic effect of sunitinib suggesting potential antineoplastic activity in ACC.Study population: Thirty-eight patients with advanced ACC progressing after mitotane and 1–3 cytotoxic chemoth...

Subject: Treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are still unsatisfactory. We could recently demonstrate that several patients with ACC exhibit a high and specific uptake of 123I-Iodometomidate (123I-IMTO). Therefore, we investigated if 131I-IMTO holds potential for radiotherapy in ACC.Methods: Dosimetry with 40 MBq I-131-IMTO was performed over 5 days in 7 patients and calculated activities were administered on a compassionate use basis in ...

Introduction: Chemokines and their receptors (CR) have been demonstrated to be involved in tumour growth and site specific metastasis. Furthermore, several cytokines have been described to modulate adrenocortical function. Therefore, we have investigated the expression pattern and functional activity of chemokine receptors and of corresponding chemokines in adrenocortical tissue.Methods: Chemokine and CR expression was assessed by RT-PCR in normal adrena...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). Few data is available on QoL in adult male and female patients with CAH.Methods: Patients with CAH or PAI were contacted and received a disease specific questionnaire and three standardized questionnaires (SF-36, GBB-24 and HADS). Reference data for SF-36 scores were obtained from the German National Health Surve...