Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2008) 16 P19

1Endocrinology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; 2Endocrine Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.


Introduction: Angiogenesis plays a major role in cancer growth and metastasis. Differences in angiogenesis and the balance of angiogenic growth factors and inhibitors may play a role in determining the observed variations in tumor behaviour. VEGF overexpression in adrenocortical carcinomas (AC) has been recently shown. Moreover a new steroidogenic specific tissue angiogenic factor (EG-VEGF) has been described, and its role is presently unknown in adrenal tumors. Previous evidence showed that somatostatin SST1 receptor (SSTR1) selective agonist inhibits VEGF and VEGFR2 expression.

Objective of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, EG-VEGF and SSTR1 genes in AC compared to aldosterone producing adenomas (APA) and normal adrenals (NA).

Methods: We analyzed the mRNA expression by real-time PCR in 11 AC, 20 APA and 7 NA.

Results:

VEGFVEGFR1VEGFR2EG-VEGFSSTR1
AC°7/11; *3.6°6/11; *3.5°5/11; *4.5°7/11; *52°6/11; *19
APA°11/20; *3.9°12/20; *4.9°8/20; *2.5°9/20; *5.8°17/20;*11
°positive /total samples; *fold-increase compared to controls (NA).

Conclusion: Our data show an over-expression of all studied genes (VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, EG-VEGF and SSTR1) in AC and APA compared to NA. The SSTR1 over-expression both in AC and in APA suggests potential therapeutic utility for SSTR1 selective agonist in the proliferative diseases involving angiogenesis. Finally we described, for the first time, a relevant EG-VEGF over-expression in AC compared to APA and NA. It will be interesting to evaluate the effect on EG-VEGF of the new inhibitors of tyrosin kinase which are currently used in anti-VEGF strategies in human tumors.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.