The size and location of the primary tumor were significant clinical risk factors for metastasis and decreased overall survival duration. These findings delineate the follow-up and treatment for these tumors.

Purpose. Because parathyroid carcinoma is rare, clear consensus is not available regarding the optimal management of patients with this condition. Treatment strategies generally derive from clinical and anecdotal experiences. We report our experience with this entity.Methods. We included all patients with parathyroid carcinoma seen at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center since January 1, 1980. The medical records and pathology specimens were reviewed and verified in all cases.

Objective Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Herein, we describe the clinical features and outcomes for a large series of ACC patients. Design and Methods Retrospective review of ACC patients seen at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1998 through 2011. Results 330 patients with median age at diagnosis of 48.5 years; 12 (3.6%) patients were under 18 years. Hormonally functioning tumors represented 41.8% (n=138) of all cases. Surgical resection for the primary tumor was done in 275 (83.3%) patients [45 at MD Anderson (16.4%)]. For those who had surgical resection, the median local-recurrence-free time was 1.04 years. Factors associated with local recurrence included positive surgical margins (P= 0.007) and advanced disease stage (P=0.026). Median overall survival time for all patients was 3.21 years. Median survival times were 24.1, 6.08, 3.47, and 0.89 years for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. In multivariable analysis, older age, functioning tumors, and higher disease stage remained significant prognostic factors associated with poor survival. Conclusion ACC prognosis remains poor with the use of currently available treatments. Older age, functioning tumors, and incomplete resections are clinical factors associated with poor survival. Surgical expertise is important to achieve complete resections and to improve outcome.

Patients with metastatic or unresectable (advanced) pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) have poor prognoses and few treatment options. This multicenter, phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of high-specific-activity 131 I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (HSA 131 I-MIBG) in patients with advanced PPGL. Methods: In this open-label, single-arm study, 81 PPGL patients were screened for enrollment, and 74 received a treatment-planning dose of HSA 131 I-MIBG. Of these patients, 68 received at least 1 therapeutic dose (∼18.5 GBq) of HSA 131 I-MIBG intravenously. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with at least a 50% reduction in baseline antihypertensive medication use lasting at least 6 mo. Secondary endpoints included objective tumor response as assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.0, biochemical tumor marker response, overall survival, and safety. Results: Of the 68 patients who received at least 1 therapeutic dose of HSA 131 I-MIBG, 17 (25%; 95% confidence interval, 16%–37%) had a durable reduction in baseline antihypertensive medication use. Among 64 patients with evaluable disease, 59 (92%) had a partial response or stable disease as the best objective response within 12 mo. Decreases in elevated (≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal at baseline) serum chromogranin levels were observed, with confirmed complete and partial responses 12 mo after treatment in 19 of 28 patients (68%). The median overall survival was 36.7 mo (95% confidence interval, 29.9–49.1 mo). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were nausea, myelosuppression, and fatigue. No patients had drug-related acute hypertensive events during or after the administration of HSA 131 I-MIBG. Conclusion: HSA 131 I-MIBG offers multiple benefits, including sustained blood pressure control and tumor response in PPGL patients.

Although PHEO/PGL are rarely diagnosed during childhood, the pediatric provider should be able to recognize and screen for such tumors, particularly in the context of a known genetic predisposition. Optimal care of these children includes a multidisciplinary team approach at centers experienced in the evaluation and treatment of these uncommon yet fascinating endocrine neoplasms.

Abstract The treatment of advanced thyroid cancer has undergone rapid evolution in the last decade, with multiple kinase inhibitor drug approvals for each subtype of thyroid cancer and a number of other commercially available drugs that have been studied for this indication. Although most of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved drugs are antiangiogenic multikinase inhibitors—vandetanib, cabozantinib, sorafenib, lenvatinib—there are two FDA indications that are mutation specific—dabrafenib/trametinib for BRAF-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer and larotrectinib for NTRK-fusion thyroid cancer. Furthermore, other mutation-specific drugs, immunotherapies, and novel strategies for advanced thyroid cancer are under investigation. Understanding the molecular basis of thyroid cancer, the drugs of interest for treatment of advanced thyroid cancer, and how these drugs can be administered safely and in the appropriate clinical scenario are the topics of this review.

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with impaired neuromuscular function, bone loss, and fractures. If a person is not taking a vitamin supplement, sun exposure is often the greatest source of vitamin D. Thus, vitamin D deficiency is not uncommon in the winter, particularly in northern latitudes. Our goal was to establish the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in south Florida (U.S.), a region of year-round sunny weather. At the end of the winter, 212 men and women attending an internal medicine clinic at a local county hospital were enrolled for measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and PTH; 99 participants returned at the end of summer. The mean (+/-sd) winter 25(OH)D concentration was 24.9 +/- 8.7 ng/ml (62.3 +/- 21.8 nmol/liter) in men and 22.4 +/- 8.2 ng/ml (56.0 +/- 20.5 nmol/liter) in women. In winter, the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, defined as 25(OH)D less than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/liter), was 38% and 40% in men and women, respectively. In the 99 subjects who returned for the end of summer visit, the mean 25(OH)D concentration was 31.0 +/- 11.0 ng/ml (77.5 +/- 27.5 nmol/liter) in men and 25.0 +/- 9.4 ng/ml (62.5 +/- 23.5 nmol/liter) in women. Seasonal variation represented a 14% summer increase in 25(OH)D concentrations in men and a 13% increase in women, both of which were statistically significant. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is considerable even in southern latitudes and should be taken into account in the evaluation of postmenopausal and male osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND:Cushing syndrome (CS) secondary to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion (EAS) has been described in association with a variety of tumors. The current experience with this syndrome was based on a few case series and individual case reports. Limited data were available about the tumors associated with CS‐EAS in a cancer center setting. In this report, the authors have described their experience with CS‐EAS at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to further enhance the current understanding and management of this syndrome.METHODS:This was a retrospective review of 43 patients with CS‐EAS who were diagnosed between 1979 and 2009 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.RESULTS:Different neuroendocrine tumors were associated with CS‐EAS. Twenty‐one patients (48.9%) had tumors located in the chest cavity, with bronchial carcinoid and small cell lung cancer representing the 2 most common causes. The ACTH source remained occult in 4 patients (9.3%) despite extensive workup. Clinical presentation varied, and the classic features of CS were not evident in some patients. Death occurred in 27 patients (62.8%), and the median overall survival was 32.2 months. Major morbidities included new‐onset or worsening hyperglycemia (77%), symptomatic venous thromboembolism (14%), and infections (23%).CONCLUSIONS:In patients with CS‐EAS who attended a comprehensive cancer center, tumors originating in the chest cavity were the leading tumors associated with this syndrome. The authors suspect that CS‐EAS is under reported because of the atypical presentation in some patients. Thus, they suggest careful evaluation of patients with neuroendocrine tumors to avoid missing coexisting CS‐EAS. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.