H R Haak1, G J Fleuren. 1. Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 frequently involves the adrenal cortex. The relationship between the diffuse neuroendocrine system and the adrenal cortex is not clear however, particularly as the adrenal cortex is not considered to be an intrinsic part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. METHODS: The possible relationship between the adrenal cortex and the diffuse neuroendocrine system was investigated in a study of the immunohistochemical characteristics of ten normal adrenal glands, four adrenal adenomas, and 18 adrenocortical carcinomas using the indirect peroxidase method of staining intermediate filaments and neuroendocrine proteins. RESULTS: With synaptophysin, NSE, and vimentin there was focal staining in only few zona glomerulosa cells in the normal adrenal cortex, whereas adrenocortical carcinomas and adenomas were extensively positive for these proteins. Keratin immunoreactivity, present in 100% of the normal cortices, was demonstrable in only half of the carcinomas and absent in all adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenocortical tumors may originate from neuroendocrine foci. The findings illuminate the pathogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma, and may carry significant implications about the choice of treatment of patients with this malignancy and other related tumors.
BACKGROUND: The syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 frequently involves the adrenal cortex. The relationship between the diffuse neuroendocrine system and the adrenal cortex is not clear however, particularly as the adrenal cortex is not considered to be an intrinsic part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. METHODS: The possible relationship between the adrenal cortex and the diffuse neuroendocrine system was investigated in a study of the immunohistochemical characteristics of ten normal adrenal glands, four adrenal adenomas, and 18 adrenocortical carcinomas using the indirect peroxidase method of staining intermediate filaments and neuroendocrine proteins. RESULTS: With synaptophysin, NSE, and vimentin there was focal staining in only few zona glomerulosa cells in the normal adrenal cortex, whereas adrenocortical carcinomas and adenomas were extensively positive for these proteins. Keratin immunoreactivity, present in 100% of the normal cortices, was demonstrable in only half of the carcinomas and absent in all adenomas. CONCLUSIONS:Adrenocortical tumors may originate from neuroendocrine foci. The findings illuminate the pathogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma, and may carry significant implications about the choice of treatment of patients with this malignancy and other related tumors.
Authors: Ken K Y Ho; Maria Fleseriu; John Wass; Aart van der Lely; Ariel Barkan; Andrea Giustina; Felipe F Casanueva; Anthony P Heaney; Nienke Biermasz; Christian Strasburger; Shlomo Melmed Journal: Pituitary Date: 2019-12 Impact factor: 4.107
Authors: S Kiiveri; S Siltanen; N Rahman; M Bielinska; V P Lehto; I T Huhtaniemi; L J Muglia; D B Wilson; M Heikinheimo Journal: Mol Med Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 6.354
Authors: Ken Ho; Maria Fleseriu; Ursula Kaiser; Roberto Salvatori; Thierry Brue; M Beatriz Lopes; Pamela Kunz; Mark Molitch; Sally A Camper; Mônica Gadelha; Luis V Syro; Edward Laws; Martin Reincke; Hiroshi Nishioka; Ashley Grossman; Ariel Barkan; Felipe Casanueva; John Wass; Adam Mamelak; Laurence Katznelson; Aart J van der Lely; Sally Radovick; Martin Bidlingmaier; Margaret Boguszewski; Jens Bollerslev; Andrew R Hoffman; Nelson Oyesiku; Gerald Raverot; Anat Ben-Shlomo; Rob Fowkes; Ilan Shimon; Hidenori Fukuoka; Alberto M Pereira; Yona Greenman; Anthony P Heaney; Mark Gurnell; Gudmundur Johannsson; Robert Y Osamura; Michael Buchfelder; Maria Chiara Zatelli; Marta Korbonits; Philippe Chanson; Nienke Biermasz; David R Clemmons; Niki Karavitaki; Marcello D Bronstein; Peter Trainer; Shlomo Melmed Journal: J Endocr Soc Date: 2021-02-09