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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2007; 115(3): 175-178
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-970411
Review Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG · Stuttgart · New York

Insights into the Molecular Biology of Adrenocortical Tumors

L. Groussin 1 , J. Bertherat 1 , C. Gicquel 1 , Y. le Bouc 1 , X. Bertagna 1
  • 1Clinique des Maladies Endocriniennes et Métaboliques, and Endocrinology Department, Institut Cochin Faculté de Médecine René and Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Trousseau, and the COMETE network, Paris, France
Further Information

Publication History

received 15. 8. 2005 first decision 27. 11. 2006

accepted 22. 1. 2007

Publication Date:
11 April 2007 (online)

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Introduction

Adrenocortical tumors are rare tumors which can cause morbidity secondary to hypersecretion (i. e. Cushing's syndrome in adrenocortical adenoma or carcinoma, mineralocorticoid excess in Conn's adenoma) or to their oncogenic growth and metastases.

In the recent years progress has been made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of these endocrine tumors ([Latronico and Chrousos, 1997]; [Bornstein et al., 1999]; [Reincke et al., 2000]; [Bertherat et al., 2002]). Some molecular mechanisms of hormone hypersecretion or growth of adrenocortical tumors have been unraveled this last decade and offer new support to our understanding of adrenocortical tumor development. In particular, studies of familial forms of adrenocortical tumors have given us new insight in the genetics of these tumors. Some of these advances have already lead to new therapeutical or diagnostic approaches.

We will not provide here an extensive review of all studies that have been performed in adrenocortical tumors; we will rather focus on some aspects that are thought to be of major interest.

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Correspondence

X. Bertagna

Clinique des Maladies

Endocriniennes et Métaboliques

Hôpital Cochin

27 rue du Fg-St-Jacques

75014 Paris

France

Phone: +33/1/58 41 17 90

Fax: +33/1/46 33 80 60

Email: xavier.bertagna@cch.aphp.fr