Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: There are not many studies specifying the role and contribution of adipocytokines in biology of adrenal gland cancer. Many research show correlation between increased level of serum visfatin and malignant potential, stage progression and prognosis. Visfatin/NAMPT overexpression has been found in a various type of malignances. So far, to the best of knowledge, this is the first research studying the role of visfatin in diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Patients and methods: This was a prospective observational study with a consecutive enrollment. Twenty two patients with adrenal gland cancers and 34 patients with benign adrenal tumors were recruited.

Results: Patients with adrenal gland cancers have higher serum visfatin concentrations as compared to controls (Me 7.7 ng/ml vs 5.9 ng/ml, P=0.0017). Also, ROC curve analysis detected visfatin concentrations higher than 7.1 ng/ml as a biomarker of adrenal cancers (P=0.0007; sensitivity 59.1%, specificity 85.3%). Visfatin serum concentrations in patients with adrenal cancers did not differ between men and women. In the whole group, visfatin positively correlated with the tumor size (P=0.0193, r=0.318).

Conclusion: Visfatin is a potential serum marker of adrenal gland cancers.