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Ghosh C, Hu J, Kebebew E. Advances in translational research of the rare cancer type adrenocortical carcinoma. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:805-824. [PMID: 37857840 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00623-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with an annual worldwide incidence of 1-2 cases per 1 million and a 5-year survival rate of <60%. Although adrenocortical carcinoma is rare, such rare cancers account for approximately one third of patients diagnosed with cancer annually. In the past decade, there have been considerable advances in understanding the molecular basis of adrenocortical carcinoma. The genetic events associated with adrenocortical carcinoma in adults are distinct from those of paediatric cases, which are often associated with germline or somatic TP53 mutations and have a better prognosis. In adult primary adrenocortical carcinoma, the main somatic genetic alterations occur in genes that encode proteins involved in the WNT-β-catenin pathway, cell cycle and p53 apoptosis pathway, chromatin remodelling and telomere maintenance pathway, cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway or DNA transcription and RNA translation pathways. Recently, integrated molecular studies of adrenocortical carcinomas, which have characterized somatic mutations and the methylome as well as gene and microRNA expression profiles, have led to a molecular classification of these tumours that can predict prognosis and have helped to identify new therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize these recent translational research advances in adrenocortical carcinoma, which it is hoped could lead to improved patient diagnosis, treatment and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiangnan Hu
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Electron Kebebew
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Baechle JJ, Hanna DN, Sekhar KR, Rathmell JC, Rathmell WK, Baregamian N. Integrative computational immunogenomic profiling of cortisol-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10061-10072. [PMID: 34664400 PMCID: PMC8572764 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy. Nearly half of ACC tumours overproduce and secrete adrenal steroids. Excess cortisol secretion, in particular, has been associated with poor prognosis among ACC patients. Furthermore, recent immunotherapy clinical trials have demonstrated significant immunoresistance among cortisol‐secreting ACC (CS‐ACC) patients when compared to their non‐cortisol‐secreting (nonCS‐ACC) counterparts. The immunosuppressive role of excess glucocorticoid therapies and hypersecretion is known; however, the impact of the cortisol hypersecretion on ACC tumour microenvironment (TME), immune expression profiles and immune cell responses remain largely undefined. In this study, we characterized the TME of ACC patients and compared the immunogenomic profiles of nonCS‐ACC and CS‐ACC tumours to assess the impact of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Immunogenomic comparison (CS‐ vs. nonCS‐ACC tumour TMEs) demonstrated an immunosuppressive expression profile with a direct impact on patient survival. We identified several primary prognostic indicators and potential targets within ACC tumour immune landscape. Differentially expressed immune genes with prognostic significance provide additional insight into the understanding of potential contributory mechanisms underlying failure of initial immunotherapeutic trials and poor prognosis of patients with CS‐ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David N Hanna
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Konjeti R Sekhar
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Rathmell
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Naira Baregamian
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Georgantzoglou N, Kokkali S, Tsourouflis G, Theocharis S. Tumor Microenvironment in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Barrier to Immunotherapy Success? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1798. [PMID: 33918733 PMCID: PMC8069982 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with aggressive behavior, with up to 40% of patients presenting with metastases at the time of diagnosis. Both conventional chemotherapeutic regimens and novel immunotherapeutic agents, many of which are currently being tested in ongoing clinical trials, have yielded modest results so far, bringing the need for a deeper understanding of adrenal cancer behavior to the forefront. In the recent years, the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a major determinant of cancer response to immunotherapy and an increasing number of studies on other solid tumors have focused on manipulating the microenvironment in the favor of the host and discovering new potential target molecules. In the present review we aim to explore the characteristics of adrenocortical cancer's microenvironment, highlighting the mechanisms of immune evasion responsible for the modest immunotherapeutic results, and identify novel potential strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Georgantzoglou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
| | - Stefania Kokkali
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
- First Medical Oncology Clinic, Saint-Savvas Anti Cancer Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Tsourouflis
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
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Fu Y, Sun S, Bi J, Kong C. Construction of a risk signature for adrenocortical carcinoma using immune-related genes. Transl Androl Urol 2020; 9:1920-1930. [PMID: 33209656 PMCID: PMC7658150 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is considered a rare tumor with a dismal prognosis. Expression of immune-related genes (IRGs) in ACC and correlations between IRGs and ACC prognosis were assessed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Methods To preliminarily predict immune cell infiltration, an immune score was calculated using ESTIMATE. Differentially expressed IRGs were screened, and potential biological functions were investigated. We then performed univariate Cox regression to identify IRGs associated with survival, and the regulatory mechanisms of IRGs associated with survival were predicted. We built a risk signature through multivariate Cox regression to evaluate patient overall survival (OS). Results A high immune score predicted a good prognosis and an early clinical stage in ACC. We identified 30 IRGs associated with survival and then predicted associated regulatory mechanisms via protein-protein interaction (PPI) and transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks. The risk signature established by multivariate Cox regression correlated significantly with prognosis in ACC. Conclusions The vital roles of IRGs in ACC were assessed, and the risk signature obtained based on IRGs associated with survival independently predicted ACC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Fu
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shanshan Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jianbin Bi
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chuize Kong
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Identification of important invasion and proliferation related genes in adrenocortical carcinoma. Med Oncol 2019; 36:73. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-019-1296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Pereira SS, Monteiro MP, Antonini SR, Pignatelli D. Apoptosis regulation in adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Connect 2019; 8:R91-R104. [PMID: 30978697 PMCID: PMC6510712 DOI: 10.1530/ec-19-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis evading is a hallmark of cancer. Tumor cells are characterized by having an impaired apoptosis signaling, a fact that deregulates the balance between cell death and survival, leading to tumor development, invasion and resistance to treatment. In general, patients with adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) have an extremely bad prognosis, which is related to disease progression and significant resistance to treatments. In this report, we performed an integrative review about the disruption of apoptosis in ACC that may underlie the characteristic poor prognosis in these patients. Although the apoptosis has been scarcely studied in ACC, the majority of the deregulation phenomena already described are anti-apoptotic. Most importantly, in a near future, targeting apoptosis modulation in ACC patients may become a promising therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia S Pereira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS/UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana P Monteiro
- Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research, Department of Anatomy, Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research (UMIB), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS/UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sonir R Antonini
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Duarte Pignatelli
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence should be addressed to D Pignatelli:
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The clinical relevance of necroinflammation-highlighting the importance of acute kidney injury and the adrenal glands. Cell Death Differ 2018; 26:68-82. [PMID: 30224638 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0193-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Necroinflammation is defined as the inflammatory response to necrotic cell death. Different necrotic cell death pathways exhibit different immune reponses, despite a comparable level of intracellular content release (referred to as damage associated molecular patterns or DAMPs). In addition to DAMP release, which is inevitably associated with necrotic cell death, the active production of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines characterizes certain necrotic pathways. Necroptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis, therefore, are immunogenic to a different extent. In this review, we discuss the clinical relevance of necroinflammation highlighting potential human serum markers. We focus on the role of the adrenal glands and the lungs as central organs affected by systemic and/or local DAMP release and underline their role in intensive care medicine. In addition, data from models of acute kidney injury (AKI) and kidney transplantation have significantly shaped the field of necroinflammation and may be helpful for the understanding of the potential role of dialysis and plasma exchange to treat ongoing necroinflammation upon intensive care unit (ICU) conditions. In conclusion, we are only beginning to understand the importance of necroinflammation in diseases and transplantation, including xenotransplantation. However, given the existing efforts to develop inhibitors of necrotic cell death (ferrostatins, necrostatins, etc), we consider it likely that interference with necroinflammation reaches clinical routine in the near future.
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Leite FA, Lira RCP, Fedatto PF, Antonini SRR, Martinelli CE, de Castro M, Neder L, Ramalho LNZ, Tucci S, Mastelaro MJ, Seidinger AL, Cardinalli IA, Yunes JA, Brandalise SR, Tone LG, Scrideli CA. Low expression of HLA-DRA, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1 is associated with poor prognosis in pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACT). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1940-8. [PMID: 25156210 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low expression of HLA class II antigens has been associated with more aggressive disease in several human malignancies including adult adrenocortical tumors (ACT), but their clinical relevance in pediatric ACT needs to be investigated. PROCEDURE This study analyzed the expression profile of three class II histocompatibility genes (HLA-DRA, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1) in 58 consecutive pediatric ACT (13 adenomas and 45 carcinomas) by quantitative real time PCR and their association with clinical and biological features. HLA-DPA1 protein level was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS A significant association (P < 0.01) was observed between lower expression levels of the three genes analyzed and poor prognostic factors such as age ≥ 4 years, tumor size ≥ 200 cm(3), tumor weight ≥ 100 g, and metastatic disease; the presence of an unfavorable event and death. Underexpression of the HLA-DRA, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1 genes were associated with lower 5-year event-free survival (EFS) (P = 0.017, P < 0.001, and P = 0.017, respectively). Cox multivariate analysis showed that HLA-DPA1 was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.029) when analyzed in association with stage IV, age and tumor size. Significantly lower EFS was also observed in patients with negative/weak immunostaining for HLA-DPA1 (P = 0.002). Similar results were observed when only patients classified as having carcinomas were analyzed. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that lower expression of HLA-DRA, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1 genes may contribute to more aggressive disease in pediatric ACT. HLA-DPA1 immunostaining may represent potential aggressiveness marker in this tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabíola A Leite
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medicine School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Lee YB, Kyung Kim E, Park HJ, Cho BK, Park YM, Kim JW, Yoo NJ, Park YG, Oh ST. Expression of Fas and Fas ligand in primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in association with grade of tumor differentiation. Int J Dermatol 2012; 52:1092-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05525.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bratland E, Husebye ES. Cellular immunity and immunopathology in autoimmune Addison's disease. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 336:180-90. [PMID: 21167251 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Revised: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune adrenocortical failure, or Addison's disease, is a prototypical organ-specific autoimmune disorder. In common with related autoimmune endocrinopathies, Addison's disease is only manageable to a certain extent with replacement therapy being the only treatment option. Unfortunately, the available therapy does not restore the physiological hormone levels and biorhythm. The key to progress in treating and preventing autoimmune Addison's disease lies in improving our understanding of the predisposing factors, the mechanisms responsible for the progression of the disease, and the interactions between adrenal antigens and effector cells and molecules of the immune system. The aim of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge on the role of T cells and cellular immunity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune Addison's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Bratland
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
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Du C, Wang Y. The immunoregulatory mechanisms of carcinoma for its survival and development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2011; 30:12. [PMID: 21255410 PMCID: PMC3031251 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-30-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The immune system in patients detects and eliminates tumor cells, but tumors still progress persistently. The mechanisms by which tumor cells survive under the pressure of immune surveillance are not fully understood. This review is to present the evidence from clinical studies, showing a significant correlation of clinicopathological features of carcinoma with: (1) the loss of classical human leukocyte antigen class I, (2) the up-regulation of non-classical human leukocyte antigen class I, pro-apoptotic Fas ligand and receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells I, and (3) the formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment by up-regulation of transforming growth factor-beta, Galectin-1, inhibitory ligand B7s, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and arginase, as well as by recruitment of tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. All of these factors may together protect carcinoma cells from the immune-cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caigan Du
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Meta-analysis of adrenocortical tumour genomics data: novel pathogenic pathways revealed. Oncogene 2010; 29:3163-72. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2010.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Alcoceba M, Marín L, Balanzategui A, Sarasquete ME, Martín-Jiménez P, Chillón MC, Corral R, Pérez-Persona E, Fernández-Calvo FJ, Hernández JM, Bladé J, Lahuerta JJ, González M, San Miguel JF, García-Sanz R. The presence of DRB1*01 allele in multiple myeloma patients is associated with an indolent disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 71:548-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2008.01048.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Clinical experience with 68 patients. Surg Oncol 2007; 17:49-57. [PMID: 17949973 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2007.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2007] [Revised: 07/16/2007] [Accepted: 09/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). Pathology, size and bilateral site of lesions were considered. Between December 1998 and May 2007 in our institution a total of 68 patients of mean age of 53 years underwent unilateral (n=57) or bilateral (n=11) LA. Adrenal masses averaged 5.4cm in size (range 1.2-13cm) and 56.7g in weight (range 10-265) including 71 benign and 8 malignant lesions. A total of 79 adrenal glands were resected, 44 right sided and 35 left sided. Removal was complete in 77 cases and partial (sparing adrenalectomy) in 1 patient affected by bilateral pheochomocytoma. Three left adrenalectomies for pheochromocytoma were robot-assisted. The transperitoneal lateral approach was preferred and the posterior retroperitoneal approach was adopted in 5 patients. The mean duration of surgery for each LA was 138+/-90min and 3.8 trocar were used on average (range 3-6). Conversion was needed in 3 cases owing to difficult dissection of large masses. Estimated mean blood loss for each LA was 95+/-30ml and it was greater for bilateral LA. Mortality was nil and morbidity was 5.8%. The average length of hospital stay (LOS) in surgical unit was 4+/-2.4 days (range 2-8). Patients affected by hormone secreting or bilateral lesions, by unilateral or bilateral pheochromocytoma and by bilateral Cushing's disease were transferred to the endocrinological ward so that their overall hospital stay was prolonged to 9+/-2.8 days on average (range 7-17). Mean duration of follow-up of patients was 38 months (range 2-100) and demonstrated acceptable endocrine results. Three primary cortical carcinomas were discovered as chance findings on histologic examination. While long-term results after LA for cortical carcinomas were poor and LA is not recommended in such cases, long-term results after LA for adrenal metastases were encouraging.
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