Therapeutic strategies for Cushing’s syndrome: an update

Knowing when to discontinue Temozolomide therapy in responding aggressive pituitary tumors and carcinomas: a systematic review and Padua (Italy) case series

INTRODUCTION

Pituitary adenomas can show a tendency to grow, despite multimodal treatment. Temozolomide (TMZ) has been used in the last 15 years in patients with aggressive pituitary tumors. TMZ requires a careful balance of different expertise, especially for selection criteria.

AREAS COVERED

We conducted: (1) a systematic review of the published literature from 2006 to 2022, collecting only cases with a complete description of patient follow-up after TMZ discontinuation; (2) a description of all patients with aggressive pituitary adenoma or carcinoma treated in Padua (Italy).

EXPERT OPINION

There is considerable heterogeneity in the literature: TMZ cycles duration ranged from 3 to 47 months; the follow-up time after TMZ discontinuation ranged from 4 to 91 months (mean 24 months, median 18 months), at least a stable disease has been reported in 75% of patients after a mean 13 months (range 3-47 months, median 10 months). The Padua (Italy) cohort reflects the literature. Future directions to explore are to understand the pathophysiological mechanism of TMZ resistance escape, to develop predicting factors to TMZ treatment (especially through the delineation of the underlying transformation processes), and to further expand the therapeutic applications of TMZ (as neoadjuvant, combined with radiotherapy).

Advanced Adrenocortical Carcinoma: From Symptoms Control to Palliative Care

The prognosis of patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is often poor: in the case of metastatic disease, five-year survival is reduced. Advanced disease is not a non-curable disease and, in referral centers, the multidisciplinary approach is the standard of care: if a shared decision regarding several treatments is available, including the correct timing for the performance of each one, overall survival is increased. However, many patients with advanced ACC experience severe psychological and physical symptoms secondary to the disease and the cancer treatments. These symptoms, combined with existential issues, debase the quality of the remaining life. Recent strong evidence from cancer research supports the early integration of palliative care principles and skills into the advanced cancer patient's trajectory, even when asymptomatic. A patient with ACC risks quickly suffering from symptoms/effects alongside the disease; therefore, early palliative care, in some cases concurrent with oncological treatment (simultaneous care), is suggested. The aims of this paper are to review current, advanced ACC approaches, highlight appropriate forms of ACC symptom management and suggest when and how palliative care can be incorporated into the ACC standard of care.

The role of 68Ga-DOTA derivatives PET-CT in patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Ectopic ACTH secretion (EAS) is mostly secondary to thoracic/abdominal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) or small cell-lung carcinoma (SCLC). We studied the diagnostic accuracy of CT with 68Ga-Dota derivatives (68Ga-SSTR) PET in localizing ACTH-secreting tumor in patients with EAS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

68Ga-SSTR-PET/CT was performed and compared with the nearest enhanced CT in 18 cases (16 primary and 2 recurrent neoplasms). Unspecific, indeterminate and false-positive uptakes were assessed using conventional imaging, follow-up or histology.

RESULTS

We diagnosed 13 thoracic (9 primary and 2 recurrent bronchial carcinoids, 2 SCLCs) and 1 abdominal (pancreatic NET) tumors. Eight ACTH-secreting tumors were promptly identified at EAS diagnosis ('overt', four pulmonary carcinoids with two recurrences and two SCLC); six EAS have been discovered during the subsequent follow-up ('covert', five bronchial carcinoids and one pancreatic NET). At the time of EAS diagnosis, imaging was able to correctly detect the ACTH-secreting tumour in 8/18 cases (6 new diagnosis and 2 recurrences). During the follow-up, six out of initially ten 'occult' cases became 'covert'. At last available follow-up, CT and 68Ga-SSTR-PET/CT were able to diagnose 11/18 and 12/18 ACTH-secreting tumours, respectively (11/14 and 12/14 considering only overt and covert cases, respectively). Four cases have never been localized by conventional or nuclear imaging ('occult EAS'), despite an average follow-up of 5 years.

CONCLUSION

The 68Ga-SSTR-PET/CT is useful in localizing EAS, especially to enhance positive prediction of the suggestive CT lesions and to detect occult neoplasms.

Metyrapone treatment in Cushing's syndrome: a real-life study

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Medical treatment is increasingly used in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). Metyrapone (MET) is an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase: retrospective studies reported a decrease of cortisol secretion in 50% of cases. We evaluated the effectiveness of MET in an observational study, considering the normalization of urinary-free cortisol (UFC) and late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled 31 patients with CS, treated with MET for at least 1 month (16 for primary treatment and 15 after surgical failure). A planned dose-titration regimen considering baseline UFC levels was adopted; MET dose was uptitrated until UFC normalization, surgery, or side effect occurrence. UFC and LNSC levels were routinely measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Patients were treated with a median dose of 1000 mg for 9 months. UFC and LNSC decreased quickly after the first month of treatment (-67 and -57% from baseline), with sustained UFC normalization up to 12 and 24 months (in 13 and 6 patients, respectively). UFC and LNSC normalized later (after 3-6 months) in patients with severe hypercortisolism (>5-fold baseline UFC). Regarding the last visit, 70 and 37% of patients normalized UFC and LNSC, respectively. Body weight reduction (-4 kg) was observed after UFC normalization. Severe side effects were not reported, half of the female patients complained of hirsutism, and blood pressure was not increased.

CONCLUSIONS

MET therapy is a rapid-onset, long-term effective, and safe medical treatment in CS patients, achieving UFC normalization (in 70% of patients) more than cortisol rhythm recovery (in 37% of subjects).

Diabetes Mellitus Secondary to Cushing's Disease

Associated with important comorbidities that significantly reduce patients' overall wellbeing and life expectancy, Cushing's disease (CD) is the most common cause of endogenous hypercortisolism. Glucocorticoid excess can lead to diabetes, and although its prevalence is probably underestimated, up to 50% of patients with CD have varying degrees of altered glucose metabolism. Fasting glycemia may nevertheless be normal in some patients in whom glucocorticoid excess leads primarily to higher postprandial glucose levels. An oral glucose tolerance test should thus be performed in all CD patients to identify glucose metabolism abnormalities. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is a consequence of cortisol excess, treating CD also serves to alleviate impaired glucose metabolism. Although transsphenoidal pituitary surgery remains the first-line treatment for CD, it is not always effective and other treatment strategies may be necessary. This work examines the main features of DM secondary to CD and focuses on antidiabetic drugs and how cortisol-lowering medication affects glucose metabolism.