Linked Life Data

11762358

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11762358

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-12-12
pubmed:abstractText
There are roughly two types of ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). one associated with overt malignancies and one with occult neoplasms. The prototype of the first condition is Cushing's syndrome sustained by small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), while bronchial carcinoid tumors are the most common occult sources of ACTH. Patients with EAS and SCLC may have an atypical presentation with muscle wasting and weight loss that are more frequently observed than the classic cushingoid features. These patients have a poor prognosis because SCLC associated with the EAS is more resistant to chemotherapy and the severe hypercortisolism is responsible for a high rate of life-threatening complications during treatment. Conversely, the clinical and biochemical features of the EAS associated with carcinoid may overlap those seen in pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome. An extensive radiological and hormonal work-up is necessary to detect the extrapituitary source of ACTH. However, the differentiation between the pituitary, or eutopic, from the non-pituitary, or ectopic, source of ACTH secretion may be extremely difficult in some cases despite the wide diagnostic armamentarium available. Molecular biology studies have demonstrated that the carcinoid cells achieve a process of corticotroph differentiation being able to express the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene and to process POMC correctly to release large amounts of intact ACTH. Conversely, SCLC processes POMC in an aberrant way releasing high concentrations of ACTH precursors and less intact ACTH in the circulation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0923-7534
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
12 Suppl 2
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
S83-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Ectopic ACTH syndrome: molecular bases and clinical heterogeneity.
pubmed:affiliation
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Medicina Interna I, Università di Torino, Italy. terzolo@usa.net
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Case Reports