help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
This version published online on October 10, 2006
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, doi:10.1210/jc.2006-0728
A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2007
This Article
Right arrow Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
92/1/65    most recent
Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pivonello, R.
Right arrow Articles by Hofland, L. J
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pivonello, R.
Right arrow Articles by Hofland, L. J

Submitted on April 4, 2006
Accepted on September 29, 2006

Dopamine receptor expression and function in corticotroph ectopic tumors

Rosario Pivonello*, Diego Ferone, Wouter W de Herder, Antongiulio Faggiano, Lisa Bodei, Ronald R de Krijger, Gaetano Lombardi, Annamaria Colao, Steven WJ Lamberts, and Leo J Hofland

Department of Internal Medicine [R.P., D.F., W.W.d.H., S.W.J.L., L.J.H.], and Pathology [R.R.d.K.], Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Departments of Molecular & Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology [R.P., A.F., G.L,. A.C.], "Federico II" University of Naples Department of Nuclear Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, Milan [L.B.], and Department of Endocrinological & Metabolic Sciences & Center for Excellence for Biomedical Research [D.F.], University of Genoa, Italy

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rpivone{at}tin.it.

Background: Dopamine receptor (DR) expression and dopamine agonist (DA) effectiveness have never been demonstrated in neuroendocrine tumors associated to ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS).

Aim: The aim of the current study was to evaluate DR, and particularly D2 subtype expression in neuroendocrine tumors associated with EAS, and to evaluate the in vivo effectiveness of the DA cabergoline in the treatment of EAS.

Patients and Methods: Six ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine tumors, including four lung, one pancreatic and one thymic carcinoids, were used for the evaluation of D2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). DR subtypes and D2 isoforms and number were evaluated by RT-PCR in three cases with persistent EAS after surgery. These patients were treated with cabergoline at the dose of 3.5 mg/week for 6 months. Hormonal levels, and tumor size were monitored during the treatment period.

Results: At IHC, D2 was expressed in five (83.3%) tumors. At RT-PCR, D2 was confirmed in all three cases but at variable number, whereas D4 was expressed in two cases (66.7%). D2long was expressed in all three cases, together with D2short in one case. A normalization of urinary cortisol levels was found in two patients (66.7%) after 3-months treatment. However, treatment escape was demonstrated in one patient of these patients afterwards.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that DRs are expressed in neuroendocrine tumors associated to EAS, and that cabergoline treatment could be effective in controlling cortisol excess in a subgroup of patients with EAS. Further studies on a larger number of patients are mandatory to confirm the usefulness of DA in EAS.
Key words: Dopamine receptors • Ectopic ACTH syndrome • Dopamine agonists • cabergoline • Neuroendocrine tumors • Cushing's syndrome




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Endocr Relat CancerHome page
T. Florio, F. Barbieri, R. Spaziante, G. Zona, L. J Hofland, P. M van Koetsveld, R. A Feelders, G. K Stalla, M. Theodoropoulou, M. D Culler, et al.
Efficacy of a dopamine-somatostatin chimeric molecule, BIM-23A760, in the control of cell growth from primary cultures of human non-functioning pituitary adenomas: a multi-center study
Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2008; 15(2): 583 - 596.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
P. A Cassier, S. Abou-Amara-Olivieri, P. Artru, M.-G. Lapalus, J.-P. Riou, and C. Lombard-Bohas
Mifepristone for ectopic ACTH secretion in metastatic endocrine carcinomas: report of two cases.
Eur. J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2008; 158(6): 935 - 938.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 2006 by The Endocrine Society