Chemotherapy for advanced adrenal cancer: improvement from a molecular approach?

Abstract

Advanced adrenal carcinoma remains a significant therapeutic challenge, with conventional approaches to systemic therapy having failed to achieve sustained objective remissions or major survival benefit in most instances. Several systemic therapies, including mitotane, suramin and gossypol, as well as cytotoxic agents, such as cisplatin and etoposide, have produced responses of ≈15-30%, with median survival figures of ≈6-15 months, depending on case selection bias, with only <10% 5-year survival rates. Recent preclinical and pathological studies have indicated a range of potential targets for drugs, including WNT/beta-catenin, epidermal growth factor receptor, RAF and k-RAS; similar applications in melanoma and renal carcinoma have achieved significant gains, and these targets are worthy of further, structured investigation. Advanced adrenal carcinoma constitutes an orphan disease, with a high mortality rate, and merits investment in clinical trials.

• Authors: Renata Costa, Robert Wesolowski, Derek Raghavan
• Journal: BJU international (BJU Int) Vol. 108 Issue 10 Pg. 1546-54 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 1464-410X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21883840 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2011 THE AUTHORS. BJU INTERNATIONAL © 2011 BJU INTERNATIONAL.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Suramin
• Mitotane

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Adrenocortical Carcinoma (drug therapy, pathology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Forecasting
• Humans
• Mitotane (therapeutic use)
• Molecular Targeted Therapy (methods)
• Suramin (therapeutic use)