Sporadic Adrenocortical Carcinomas Research Articles

Germline NGS targeted analysis in adult patients with sporadic adrenocortical carcinoma

BackgroundAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer that arises sporadically or due to hereditary syndromes. Data on germline variants (GVs) in sporadic ACC are limited. Our aim was to characterize GVs of genes potentially related to adrenal diseases in 150 adult patients with sporadic ACC. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of stage I-IV ACC patients with sporadic ACC from two reference centers for ACC in Italy. Patients were included in the analysis if they had confirmed diagnosis of ACC, a frozen peripheral blood sample and complete clinical and follow-up data. Next generation sequencing technology was used to analyze the prevalence of GVs in a custom panel of 17 genes belonging to either cancer-predisposition genes or adrenocortical-differentiation genes categories. ResultsWe identified 18 GVs based on their frequency, enrichment and predicted functional characteristics. We found six pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) variants in ARMC5, CTNNB1, MSH2, PDE11A and TP53 genes; and twelve variants lacking evidence of pathogenicity. New unique P/LP variants were identified in TP53 (p.G105D) and, for the first time, in ARMC5 (p.P731R). The presence of P/LP GVs was associated with reduced survival outcomes and had a significant and independent impact on both progression-free survival and overall survival. ConclusionsGVs were present in 6.7 % of patients with sporadic ACC, and we identified novel variants of ARMC5 and TP53. These findings may improve understanding of ACC pathogenesis and enable genetic counseling of patients and their families.

THU616 Analysis Of Germline Mutations In Patients With Sporadic Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Abstract Disclosure: M. Terzolo: None. S. Grisanti: None. M. Scatolini: None. P. Tomaiuolo: None. E. Grosso: None. V. Basile: None. D. Cosentini: None. S. Puglisi: None. M. Laganà: None. P. Perotti: None. L. Saba: None. E. Rossini: None. S. Sigala: None. M. Volante: None. A. Berruti: None. Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer associated with hereditary syndromes in 10% of cases. Germline variants (GVs) in patients with ACC have been identified mainly in pediatric patients and in family cases, while data on GVs in adult patients with sporadic ACC are limited. Methods: We analyzed germline DNA from 150 adult patients with sporadic ACC sequentially referred to our centers between 1998 and 2019. We designed a custom panel of 17 genes potentially involved in the pathogenesis of ACC: AIP, APC, ARMC5, ARNT, BRCA1, BRCA2, CTNNB1, IGF2, MEN1, MSH2, MSH6, PDE8B, PDE11A, PRKACA, PRKACB, PRKAR1A, and TP53. NGS data were analyzed by a semi-automated bioinformatic pipeline. All GVs were studied using effect predictor tools (PolyPhen and SIFT). Specific databases (ClinVar, Varsome, gnomAD, IARC TP53, HGMD) were used for variant classification according to ACMG criteria. Variants interpreted as pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) were considered as positive. Clinical, pathological and genomic data were analyzed in different Cox models to study prognostic impact of covariates for disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: We identified 21 unique GVs in 24/150 patients (16%). GVs were found in 9 genes including APC (n=3), ARMC5 (n=3), MSH2 (n=3), PDE11A (n=3), TP53 (n=3), MSH6 (n=2), PDE8B (n=2), AIP (n=1) and CTNNB1 (n=1). Eleven positive GVs including 3 GVs with deleterious potential were found in 14/150 patients (9.3%). Some variants were particularly enriched, with a frequency of 0.02% compared to an overall frequency of 0.001-0.004% in the gnomAD database. We found a new GV in TP53 (G105D) in a patient who was later found to have a sister with ACC and, for the first time, 3 GVs in ARMC5 (P731R). Patients with ARMC5 GVs had large cortisol-secreting tumors and one case displayed pathologic features of ACC and combined macronodular cortical disease. Positive GVs were associated with a shorter OS (50 vs 142 months, HR 1.81; 95%CI, 0.86-3.82, p=0.118) and PFS (8 vs 30 months, HR 3.11; 95%CI, 1.57-6.16, p=0.001) but not DFS (27 vs 32 months, HR 1.07; 95%CI, 0.52-2.22, p=0.845). At multivariate analysis, known clinical factors (age, surgery of primary ACC, ENSAT stage, hypercortisolism) were found to have prognostic impact on OS. However, GVs remained independent predictors of PFS and OS in metastatic patients. Conclusions: In a series of 150 patients with ACC, we found that 9.3% of them had positive GVs, thus confirming findings from the TCGA analysis. We describe for the first time the presence of ARMC5 GVs in patients with ACC and we found a novel pathogenic variant of TP53. Pathologic features of one ARMC5 case suggest a possible progression from macronodular hyperplasia to ACC. Finally, the present findings suggest that GVs can affect ACC progression and survival of affected patients. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

The role of molecular profiling in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive cancer with still partially unknown pathogenesis, heterogenous clinical behaviour and no effective treatment for advanced stages. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical unmet need for better prognostication strategies, innovative therapies and significant improvement of the management of the individual patients. In this review, we summarize available studies on molecular prognostic markers and markers predictive of response to standard therapies as well as newly proposed drug targets in sporadic ACC. We include in vitro studies and available clinical trials, focusing on alterations at the DNA, RNA and epigenetic levels. We also discuss the potential of biomarkers to be implemented in a clinical routine workflow for improved ACC patient care.

MON-LB061 Cushing Syndrome Due to an Adrenocortical Carcinoma in a Baby with Atypical Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome

Introduction: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital tumor-predisposition syndrome of which around 70% develops because of the methylation defects in the imprinted genes at chromosome 11p15.5. KCNQ1OT1 hypomethylation is the most common underlying genetic aberration in sporadic BWS, accounting for 50% of the sporadic cases but confers the least tumor risk. Case: We present a 5 month-old girl who presented with an excessive weight gain, arrested growth in height and head circumference and Cushingoid face starting from two months of age. She was born following an in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy to non-consanguineous parents with negative family history for malignancies. She had signs of Cushing syndrome, nevus flammeus between eyebrows, microcephaly, a palpable mass on upper right abdomen and Tanner stage 2 pubic hair on physical examination. She had elevated free cortisol and suppressed ACTH and dexamethasone suppression test was consistent with Cushing Syndrome. Abdominal MRI revealed a right adrenocortical mass measuring 4x3x1.5 cm. Histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma. There was no adrenal cortex cytomegaly at histopathological evaluation. Methylation analysis of the imprinted domains at chromosome 11p15.5 revealed hypomethylation at KvDMR (KCNQ1OT1 gene). Except for a nevus flammeus and adrenocortical carcinoma, no other features of BWS were present. Growth rate of height and head circumference normalised after tumor resection. Conclusion: This case establishes that KCNQ1OT1 hypomethylation should not only be considered in cases with a clear BWS phenotype but in all pediatric cases of apparently sporadic adrenocortical carcinoma. Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. s presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

Whole-exome next generation sequencing of sporadic adrenocortical carcinomas - evidence for a proposed adenoma-carcinoma carcinogenesis sequence

Whole-exome next generation sequencing of sporadic adrenocortical carcinomas - evidence for a proposed adenoma-carcinoma carcinogenesis sequence

Molecular markers and targeted therapies for adrenocortical carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a lethal disease with poor prognosis and lack of effective therapeutic options. Systemic treatment is often employed to treat patients with advanced ACC, but outcomes are disappointing. During the last decade, some of the causative genetic mutations in sporadic ACCs have been identified. Molecular analysis has had a significant impact on the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanism of ACC development and the evaluation of prognostic and predictive markers. Preclinical investigations and clinical trials of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anti-angiogenic compounds have been initiated to seek target therapy of ACCs. This review summarizes the current view of molecular alterations involved in the pathophysiology of adrenocortical carcinogenesis. The rationale for testing targeted therapies of ACC is also presented.

AXIN genetic analysis in adrenocortical carcinomas updated.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation plays an important role in adrenocortical tumorigenesis, but is only in part related to β-catenin activating somatic mutations. Recently, genetic alteration in AXIN2, a key component of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, has been described in adrenocortical tumors and specifically in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). To assess frequency and consequences of AXIN genes alteration on a large cohort of ACC. Forty-nine adult sporadic ACC, with expression data available, in addition to both ACC cell lines H295 and H295R were studied. AXIN2 exon 8 hot-spot sequencing was performed on the entire cohort. AXIN1 entire coding region was studied on the 8 ACC with nuclear β-catenin staining. The previously described AXIN2 in-frame heterozygous 12bp deletion c2013_2024del12 was found in 1 of the 49 ACC studied (2%), in a tumor with pSer45del activating CTNNB1 mutation and nuclear β-catenin staining. This heterozygous deletion was also found in the patient's germline DNA, extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. This genetic alteration was also present in H295 and H295R cell lines. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs35415678 was found with an allele frequency similar to those found in reference populations. No correlation between AXIN2 expression, AXIN2 genetic variant or nuclear β- catenin staining was observed. No AXIN1 alterations were found in the 8 ACC studied. AXIN genes do not play a major role in ACC tumorigenesis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation. AXIN2 germline variant c2013_2024del12 is likely to be a non-pathogenic polymorphism.

P53 Stabilization Induces Cell Growth Inhibition and Affects IGF2 Pathway in Response to Radiotherapy in Adrenocortical Cancer Cells

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare endocrine tumour, with variable prognosis, depending on tumour stage and time of diagnosis. However, it is generally fatal, with an overall survival of 5 years from detection. Radiotherapy usefulness for ACC treatment has been widely debated and seems to be dependent on molecular alterations, which in turn lead to increased radio-resistance. Many studies have shown that p53 loss is an important risk factor for malignant adrenocortical tumour onset and it has been reported that somatic mutations in TP53 gene occur in 27 to 70% of adult sporadic ACCs. In this study, we investigated the role of somatic mutations of the TP53 gene in response to ionizing radiation (IR). We studied the status of p53 in two adrenocortical cell lines, H295R and SW-13, harbouring non-functioning forms of this protein, owing to the lack of exons 8 and 9 and a point mutation in exon 6, respectively. Moreover, these cell lines show high levels of p-Akt and IGF2, especially H295R. We noticed that restoration of p53 activity led to inhibition of growth after transient transfection of cells with wild type p53. Evaluation of their response to IR in terms of cell proliferation and viability was determined by means of cell count and TUNEL assay.wtp53 over-expression also increased cell death by apoptosis following radiation in both cell lines. Moreover, RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis of some p53 target genes, such as BCL2, IGF2 and Akt demonstrated that p53 activation following IR led to a decrease in IGF2 expression. This was associated with a reduction in the active form of Akt. Taken together, these results highlight the role of p53 in response to radiation of ACC cell lines, suggesting its importance as a predictive factor for radiotherapy in malignant adrenocortical tumours cases.

Acquisition Order of Ras and p53 Gene Alterations Defines Distinct Adrenocortical Tumor Phenotypes

Sporadic adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare endocrine neoplasms with a dismal prognosis. By contrast, benign tumors of the adrenal cortex are common in the general population. Whether benign tumors represent a separate entity or are in fact part of a process of tumor progression ultimately leading to an ACC is still an unresolved issue. To this end, we have developed a mouse model of tumor progression by successively transducing genes altered in adrenocortical tumors into normal adrenocortical cells. The introduction in different orders of the oncogenic allele of Ras (H-RasG12V) and the mutant p53DD that disrupts the p53 pathway yielded tumors displaying major differences in histological features, tumorigenicity, and metastatic behavior. Whereas the successive expression of RasG12V and p53DD led to highly malignant tumors with metastatic behavior, reminiscent of those formed after the simultaneous introduction of p53DD and RasG12V, the reverse sequence gave rise only to benign tumors. Microarray profiling revealed that 157 genes related to cancer development and progression were differentially expressed. Of these genes, 40 were up-regulated and 117 were down-regulated in malignant cell populations as compared with benign cell populations. This is the first evidence-based observation that ACC development follows a multistage progression and that the tumor phenotype is directly influenced by the order of acquisition of genetic alterations.

Inactivation of theAPCGene Is Constant in Adrenocortical Tumors from Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis but Not Frequent in Sporadic Adrenocortical Cancers

In adrenocortical tumors (ACT), Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation can be explained by β-catenin somatic mutations only in a subset of tumors. ACT is observed in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with germline APC mutations, as well as in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome with Wilms' tumors reported to have WTX somatic mutations. Both APC and WTX are involved in Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulation and may play a role in ACT tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to report if APC and WTX may be associated with FAP-associated and sporadic ACT. ACTs from patients with FAP and sporadic adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) with abnormal β-catenin localization on immunohistochemistry but no somatic β-catenin mutations were studied. APC was analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography followed by direct sequencing and by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification when allelic loss was suspected. WTX was studied by direct sequencing. Four ACTs were observed in three patients with FAP and were ACC, adrenocortical adenoma, and bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia, all with abnormal β-catenin localization. Biallelic inactivation of APC was strongly suggested by the simultaneous existence of somatic and germline alterations in all ACTs. In the 20 sporadic ACCs, a silent heterozygous somatic mutation as well as a rare heterozygous polymorphism in APC was found. No WTX mutations were observed. ACT should be considered a FAP tumor. Biallelic APC inactivation mediates activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the ACTs of patients with FAP. In contrast, APC and WTX genetic alterations do not play a significant role in sporadic ACC.

Insights into the role of genetic alterations in adrenocortical tumorigenesis

Whereas benign adrenocortical tumors are frequent in the population, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer. Significant advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of sporadic ACCs have been possible through the study of hereditary syndromes responsible for ACCs. The genetic alterations involved in these syndromes have also been found in sporadic ACCs. Several specific genes have been shown to be altered in sporadic ACCs. Despite these progresses, the underlying sequence(s) of events remains to be elucidated. Progressive transformation of a normal tissue into a benign tumor and ultimately into a carcinoma occurs via accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Likewise, a multistage model has been proposed for the adrenal tumor development. This review summarizes the molecular alterations likely involved in the multistage tumorigenesis and describes a mouse model which allows us to evaluate the effect of individual genes or combination of genes in the development of adrenocortical tumors.

P53 Mutations in sporadic adrenocortical tumors

Non-familial human adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas were screened for mutations in exons 5-8 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene by single-strand-conformation-polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, followed by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA. Point mutations in codons 12, 13 and 61 in H-ras, K-ras and N-ras proto-oncogenes were similarly assessed by direct DNA sequencing. Three out of 15 primary adrenocortical carcinomas (20%) contained a mis-sense point mutation in the conserved regions (exons 5 and 8) of the p53 gene. Mutations were located in codon 157 (GTC-->TTC; Val-->Phe), codon 163 (TAC-->AAC; Tyr-->Asn), and codon 273 (CGT-->TGT; Arg-->Cys). The mutation in codon 157 was detected in the primary tumor as well as in brain and lymph-node metastases. Among 18 adrenocortical adenomas, there was only a single non-miscoding mutation in codon 295 (CCT-->CCC; Pro-->Pro). These data suggest that mutational inactivation of the p53 gene occurs in a minority (20%) of sporadic adrenocortical carcinomas and that these mutations constitute a late event in the multi-step process of malignant transformation. No ras mutations were detected in any of these tumors, suggesting that these genes are not involved in the development of tumors originating from the adrenal cortex.