Cytoreductive Surgery of the Primary Tumor in Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Impact on Patients' Survival.

CONTEXT: The role of cytoreduction of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic ACC. DESIGN AND SETTING: We performed a multicentric, retrospective paired cohort study comparing the overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic ACC who were treated either with cytoreductive surgery (CR group) or without cytoreductive surgery (no-CR group) of the primary tumor. Data were retrieved from 9 referral centers in the American-Australian-Asian Adrenal Alliance collaborative research group. PATIENTS: Patients aged ≥18 years with metastatic ACC at initial presentation who were treated between January 1, 1995, and May 31, 2019. INTERVENTION: Performance (or not) of cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: A propensity score match was done using age and the number of organs with metastasis (≤2 or >2). The main outcome was OS, determined from the date of diagnosis until death or until last follow-up for living patients. RESULTS: Of 339 patients pooled, 239 were paired and included: 128 in the CR group and 111 in the no-CR group. The mean follow-up was 67 months. Patients in the no-CR group had greater risk of death than did patients in the CR group (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.18; 95% CI, 2.34-4.32). Independent predictors of survival included age (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03), hormone excess (HR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.66-3.92), and local metastasis therapy (HR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.47-0.65). CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic ACC is associated with prolonged survival.

Tumores e hiperplasias adrenocorticais: identificação de possíveisdoenças hereditárias / Recognition of hereditary diseases related to adrenocortical tumors andhyperplasias

A alta prevalência de tumores da glândula adrenal deve-se, em parte, ao avanço dos métodos de imagem. Os adenomas, carcinomas e hiperplasias oriundos do córtex adrenal são responsáveis por 80 a 90% dos processos tumorais. Alguns casos são herdados e podem estar associados a efeito compressivo de massa tumoral, hipersecreção de esteroides ou manifestações clínicas em outros órgãos. Considerando as hiperplasias e tumores adrenocorticais, o objetivo desse trabalho foi auxiliar os médicos na identificação de pacientes que apresentem risco para doença hereditária. As neoplasias e hiperplasias adrenocorticais podem ser encontradas em síndromes hereditárias, como a síndrome de Li-Fraumeni, síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann, neoplasia endócrina múltipla do tipo I, síndrome de Gardner e no complexo de Carney. A hereditariedade também está associada com doenças adrenocorticais na hiperplasia adrenal congênita, no aldosteronismo primário e/ou na síndrome de Cushing (doença clínica ou subclínica) na hiperplasia adrenal macronodular primária. Essa revisão descreve as características clínicas e os defeitos genéticos responsáveis pelas síndromes hereditárias. Relacionamos também a classificação histopatológica dos processos expansivos com os principais sinais clínicos e os genes relacionados. A identificação de defeitos genéticos em células germinativas nessas doenças familiais permite o conhecimento de alterações somáticas em alguns tipos de processos tumorais adrenocorticais de etiologia esporádica. Considerando a prevalência dos tumores do córtex adrenal, a identificação de predisposição hereditária é essencial para assegurar a conduta clínica correta do paciente e o aconselhamento genético de seus familiares.

The adrenal gland tumors are prevalent due in part by the widespread use of imaging studies. Adenomas, carcinomas and hyperplasias, originating from the adrenal cortex, account for 80-90% of adrenal tumoral processes. Some cases are inherited and may be associated with local mass effect, steroid hypersecretion and/or clinical manifestation in other organs. In the context of adrenocortical tumors and hyperplasias, the purpose of this article is to assist physicians in identifying patients who may be at risk of hereditary diseases. Adrenocortical hyperplasias and neoplasias can be found in familial tumor syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Gardner syndrome and Carney complex. Heredity has been also associated with adrenocortical lesions in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, primary aldosteronism and/or Cushing syndrome (overt or subclinical disease) in primary macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PMAH). This review describes the clinical recognition and genetic defects that have been found to be responsible for these hereditary diseases. Furthermore, we present the histopathologic classification of adrenocortical expansive processes in correlation to the main clinical features and related genes. The identification of germline genetic defects in such familial diseases lead to the identification of somatic alterations in a subgroup of sporadic adrenocortical lesions. Considering the prevalence of adrenocortical tumors, identification of a hereditary predisposition is essential to assure the adequate clinical management of the patient and to offer the genetic counselling to family members.

Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome and is more often diagnosed as bilateral adrenal incidentalomas with subclinical cortisol production. We summarize the recent insights concerning its epidemiology, diagnosis, genetics, pathophysiology, and therapeutic options. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent publications have modified our notions on the genetics and pathophysiology of bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. Combined germline and somatic mutations of armadillo repeat containing 5 gene were identified in familial cases, in approximately 50% of apparently sporadic cases and in the relatives of index cases; genetic testing should allow early diagnosis in the near future. The recent finding of ectopic adrenocortical production of adrenocorticotropic hormone in clusters of bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia tissues and its regulation by aberrant hormone receptors opens new horizons for eventual medical therapy using melanocortin-2 receptor and G-protein-coupled receptor antagonists. Finally, some medical and surgical treatments have been updated. SUMMARY: Recent findings indicate that bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia is more frequently genetically determined than previously believed. Considering the role of paracrine adrenocorticotropic hormone production on cortisol secretion, the previous nomenclature of adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia appears inappropriate, and this disease should now be named primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.

ARMC5 mutations are a frequent cause of primary macronodular adrenal Hyperplasia.

CONTEXT: Primary macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PMAH) is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome, usually characterized by functioning adrenal macronodules and increased cortisol production. Familial clustering of PMAH has been described, suggesting an inherited genetic cause for this condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the gene responsible for familial PMAH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven individuals of a Brazilian family with PMAH were evaluated. A single-nucleotide polymorphism-based genome-wide linkage analysis followed by whole-exome sequencing were then performed in selected family members. Additionally, 29 other patients with PMAH and 125 randomly selected healthy individuals were studied to validate the genetic findings. Moreover, PMAH tissue was also analyzed through whole-exome sequencing, conventional sequencing, and microsatellite analysis. RESULTS: A heterozygous germline variant in the ARMC5 gene (p.Leu365Pro) was identified by whole-exome sequencing in a candidate genomic region (16p11.2). Subsequently, the same variant was confirmed by conventional sequencing in all 16 affected family members. The variant was predicted to be damaging by in silico methods and was not found in available online databases or in the 125 selected healthy individuals. Seven additional ARMC5 variants were subsequently identified in 5 of 21 patients with apparently sporadic PMAH and in 2 of 3 families with the disease. Further molecular analysis identified a somatic mutational event in 4 patients whose adrenal tissue was available. CONCLUSIONS: Inherited autosomal dominant mutations in the ARMC5 gene are a frequent cause of PMAH. Biallelic inactivation of ARMC5 is consistent with its role as a potential tumor suppressor gene.

Genetic aspects of adrenocortical tumours and hyperplasias.

Adrenocortical tumours (ACT), which include adenomas, carcinomas and adrenal hyperplasia, may be associated with genetic syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, familial adenomatous polyposis and Carney complex. Genetic defects have been found to be responsible for the disease in most of these syndromes, allowing genetic counselling to affected patients and family members. Here, we summarize the clinical criteria of these hereditary syndromes and briefly describe the genetic alterations related to them. In addition, we discuss the involvement of various genetic defects in the development of sporadic adrenocortical tumours.

Combined expression of BUB1B, DLGAP5, and PINK1 as predictors of poor outcome in adrenocortical tumors: validation in a Brazilian cohort of adult and pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: A recent microarray study identified a set of genes whose combined expression patterns were predictive of poor outcome in a cohort of adult adrenocortical tumors (ACTs). The difference between the expression values measured by qRT-PCR of DLGAP5 and PINK1 genes was the best molecular predictor of recurrence and malignancy. Among the adrenocortical carcinomas, the combined expression of BUB1B and PINK1 genes was the most reliable predictor of overall survival. The prognostic and molecular heterogeneity of ACTs raises the need to study the applicability of these molecular markers in other cohorts. OBJECTIVE: To validate the combined expression of BUB1B, DLGAP5, and PINK1 as outcome predictor in ACTs from a Brazilian cohort of adult and pediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BUB1B, DLGAP5, and PINK1 expression was assessed by quantitative PCR in 53 ACTs from 52 patients - 24 pediatric and 28 adults (one pediatric patient presented a bilateral asynchronous ACT). RESULTS: DLGAP5-PINK1 and BUB1B-PINK1 were strong predictors of disease-free survival and overall survival, respectively, among adult patients with ACT. In the pediatric cohort, these molecular predictors were only marginally associated with disease-free survival but not with overall survival. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the prognostic value of the combined expression of BUB1B, DLGAP5, and PINK1 genes in a Brazilian group of adult ACTs. Among pediatric ACTs, other molecular predictors of outcome are required.