Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) belong to a new group of anticancer drugs targeting T-cell proteins involved in the activation of immune response toward malignancies. Their introduction into clinical practice was a milestone in modern cancer treatment. However, the significant advantage of ICIs over conventional chemotherapy in terms of therapeutic efficacy is accompanied by new challenges related to specific side effects. ICI-induced immune system activation could lead to the loss of self-tolerance, presenting as autoimmune inflammation and dysfunction of various tissues and organs. Thus, the typical side effects of ICIs include immune-related adverse events (irAEs), among which endocrine irAEs, affecting numerous endocrine glands, have been commonly recognized. This review aimed to outline the current knowledge regarding ICI-induced endocrine disorders from a clinical perspective. We present updated information on the incidence and clinical development of ICI-induced endocrinopathies, including the most frequent thyroiditis and hypophysitis, the rarely observed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and primary adrenal insufficiency, and the recently described cases of hypoparathyroidism and lipodystrophy. Practical guidelines for monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of ICI-related endocrine toxicities are also offered. Rising awareness of endocrine irAEs among oncologists, endocrinologists, and other health professionals caring for patients receiving ICIs could contribute to better safety and efficacy. As immunotherapy becomes widespread and approved for new types of malignancies, increased incidences of endocrine irAEs are expected in the future.

SummaryAlthough bone disease and stone disease are the universally accepted classical manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism, clinical parathyroid bone disease is rarely seen today in the United States (<5% of patients) and Western Europe. Nevertheless, in a given patient, classical skeletal involvement can be the first sign of primary hyperparathyroidism, but not recognized because it is not usually included, anymore, in the differential diagnosis of this manifestation of skeletal disease. We describe four cases of primary hyperparathyroidism in which the first clinical manifestation of the disease was a pathological fracture that masqueraded as a malignancy. The presence of large osteolytic lesions gave rise to the initial diagnosis of a primary or metastatic cancer. In none of the reported cases was primary hyperparathyroidism with osteitis fibrosa considered as the diagnosis. It would seem to us that this course is best explained by the fact that in many countries such manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism have become a rarity. In fact, the incidence of osteitis fibrosa among patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in the US is estimated as so rare, that in majority of medical centers routine x-ray examinations of the bones in these patients is not recommended. The X-ray or computed tomography scan findings of osteitis fibrosa cystica include lytic or multilobular cystic changes. Multiple bony lesions representing brown tumors may be misdiagnosed on computed tomography scan as metastatic carcinoma, bone cysts, osteosarcoma, and especially giant-cell tumor. Distinguishing between primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy is made readily by the concomitant measurement of parathyroid hormone which in primary hyperparathyroidism, again, will be markedly elevated. In the hypercalcemias of malignancy, such elevations of parathyroid hormone are virtually never seen.ConclusionWhen radiographic evidence of a lytic lesion and hypercalcemia are present, primary hyperparathyroidism should always be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Objective: Aromatase cytochrome P45019 (CYP19) is a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, and polymorphisms within its gene are associated with an increased risk of estrogen-dependent diseases. Enhanced estrogen stimulation of breast tissue in men may lead to gynecomastia. We assessed whether intron 4 (TTTA)n repeat and TCT deletion/insertion polymorphisms and an exon 10 (3 0 -UTR) C/T single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP19 are associated with gynecomastia. Design/methods: We performed a genetic association study of 100 patients referred to the endocrinological outpatient clinic with breast glandular tissue enlargement confirmed by clinical and ultrasound examinations and 99 healthy volunteers without gynecomastia. Microsatellite (TTTA)n and insertion/deletion polymorphisms were studied using capillary electrophoresis, and the C/T polymorphism in the 3 0 -UTR was analyzed using the TaqMan assay. Results: Significantly increased risk of gynecomastia was found in subjects carrying a CYP19 exon 10 T allele that was previously related to the high aromatase activity. Frequency of the TT genotype was significantly higher in patients when compared with controls (40.6 vs 26.3%; TT versus CT and CC genotypes; P c !0.05). We found strong linkage disequilibrium between the alleles of studied polymorphic loci. T allele in the 3 0 -UTR was in linkage disequilibrium with the long alleles of the intron 4 polymorphism, mainly (TTTA)11. However, our findings did not show significant correlation of alleles having more than nine TTTA repeats with gynecomastia. Conclusions: The CYP19 polymorphisms might contribute to the incidence of gynecomastia, but further studies in larger groups are needed to confirm these results.European Journal of Endocrinology 158 721-727

Context Pasireotide-LAR, a second-generation somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL), is recommended for patients with acromegaly as second-line treatment. Its efficacy and safety were assessed in clinical trials; however, the real-world evidence is still scarce. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of 1-year treatment with pasireotide-LAR on disease control and glucose metabolism in acromegaly patients resistant to first-generation SRLs. Design A single-center prospective study. Methods Twenty-eight patients with active acromegaly or acrogigantism on first-generation SRLs following ineffective pituitary surgery were switched to treatment with pasireotide-LAR 40 or 60 mg i.m. every 28 days. To assess the efficacy of the treatment GH and IGF-1 levels were measured every 3 months. Safety of treatment was carefully evaluated, especially its impact on glucose metabolism. Results Complete biochemical control (GH ≤ 1 ng/mL and IGF-1 ≤ 1 × ULN) was achieved in 26.9% of patients and partial + complete response (GH ≤ 2.5 ng/mL and IGF-1 ≤ 1.3 × ULN) in 50.0% of patients. Mean GH level decrease was the largest within first 6 months (P = 0.0001) and mean IGF-1 level decreased rapidly within the first 3 months (P < 0.0001) and they remained reduced during the study. Blood glucose and HbA1c levels increased significantly within 3 months (P = 0.0001) and stayed on stable level thereafter. Otherwise, the treatment was well tolerated and clinical improvement was noticed in majority of patients. Conclusions This real-life study confirmed good effectiveness of pasireotide-LAR in patients resistant to first-generation SRLs. Pasireotide-LAR was overall safe and well tolerated, however significant glucose metabolism worsening was noted.

Background: Transsphenoidal adenomectomy (TSS) of somatotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) is the first-line treatment of acromegaly. Pharmacological treatment is recommended if surgery is contraindicated or did not lead to disease remission. The choice of treatment best fitting each patient should be based on thorough investigation of patients' characteristics. The current analysis attempts to create a tool for personalized treatment planning.Aim: This study aimed to assess whether clinical, biochemical, imaging and pathological characteristics can predict surgical remission and response to firstgeneration somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) and pasireotide-LAR in acromegaly.Patients and methods: A retrospective study of 153 acromegaly patients, treated in the Department of Endocrinology in Bielanski Hospital in Warsaw, Poland was performed. Data on demographics, hormonal and imaging results, pathological evaluation, and treatment outcome was extracted from the Polish Acromegaly Registry collecting information from 11 endocrinology centers in Poland and analyzed.Results: Patients with surgical remission had lower GH and IGF-1 concentrations at diagnosis (median GH 5.5 µg/L [IQR: 3.1-16.0] vs. 19.9 µg/L [IQR: 9.8-42.4], p=<0.001 and mean IGF-1 3.1xULN ± SD=1.2 vs. 3.7xULN ± SD=1.2, p=0.007, respectively) and smaller tumors (median 12.5mm [IQR: 9-19] vs. 23mm [IQR: 18-30], p<0.001). These tumors were more often densely granulated (DG) (73.2% vs. 40.0%, p=0.001) with positive staining for alpha-Frontiers in Endocrinology frontiersin.org 01

BackgroundDespite the preserved LVEF, patients with acromegaly are characterized by subclinical systolic dysfunction i.e., abnormal global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). The effect of acromegaly treatment on LV systolic function assessed by STE, has not been evaluated so far.Patients and methodsThirty-two naïve acromegalic patients without detectable heart disease were enrolled in a prospective, single-center study. 2D-Echocardiography and STE were performed at diagnosis, 3&amp;6 months on preoperative somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) treatment and 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS).ResultsTreatment with SRL resulted in reduction in median (IQR) GH&amp;IGF-1 levels after 3 months, from 9.1(3.2-21.9) to 1.8(0.9-5.2) ng/mL (p&lt;0.001) and from 3.2(2.3-4.3) to 1.5(1.1-2.5) xULN (p&lt;0.001), respectively. Biochemical control on SRL was achieved in 25.8% of patients after 6 months and complete surgical remission was achieved in 41.7% of patients. TSS resulted in decrease in median (IQR) IGF-1 compared to IGF-1 levels on SRL treatment: from 1.5(1.2-2.5) to 1.3(1.0-1.6) xULN (p=0.003). Females had lower IGF-1 levels at baseline, on SRL and after TSS compared to males. The median end diastolic and end systolic left ventricle volumes were normal. Almost half of the patients (46.9%) had increased LVMi, however the median value of LVMi was normal in both sex groups: 99g/m2 in males and 94g/m2 in females. Most patients (78.1%) had increased LAVi and the median value was 41.8mL/m2. At baseline 50% of patients, mostly men (62.5% vs. 37.5%) had GLS values higher than -20%. There was a positive correlation between baseline GLS and BMI r=0.446 (p=0.011) and BSA r=0.411 (p=0.019). The median GLS significantly improved after 3 months of SRL treatment compared to baseline: -20.4% vs. -20.0% (p=0.045). The median GLS was lower in patients with surgical remission compared to patients with elevated GH&amp;IGF-1 levels: -22.5% vs. -19.8% (p=0.029). There was a positive correlation between GLS and IGF-1 levels after TSS r=0.570 (p=0.007).ConclusionThe greatest beneficial effect of acromegaly treatment on LV systolic function is visible already after 3 months of preoperative SRL treatment, especially in women. Patients with surgical remission have better GLS compared to patients with persistent acromegaly.

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A 38-year-old transgender man with advanced metastatic functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PanNEN) gastrinoma was admitted to the Department of Endocrinology due to severe ACTH-dependent hypercortisolemia. An ectopic production of ACTH by PanNEN was suspected. The patient qualified for bilateral adrenalectomy after preoperative treatment with metyrapone. Finally, the patient underwent resection of the left adrenal gland with the tumor only, which surprisingly resulted in a significant decrease in ACTH and cortisol levels, leading to clinical improvement. Pathology report revealed an adenoma of the adrenal cortex with positive ACTH staining. The result of the simultaneous liver lesion biopsy confirmed a metastatic NEN G2 with positive ACTH immunostaining as well. We looked for a correlation between gender-affirming hormone treatment and the onset of the disease and its rapid progression. This may be the first case describing the coexistence of gastrinoma and ectopic Cushing disease in a transsexual patient.