The Insulin and IGF-I Pathway in Endocrine Glands Carcinogenesis

Endocrine cancers are a heterogeneous group of diseases that may arise from endocrine cells in any gland of the endocrine system. These malignancies may show an aggressive behavior and resistance to the common anticancer therapies. The etiopathogenesis of these tumors remains mostly unknown. The normal embryological development and differentiation of several endocrine glands are regulated by specific pituitary tropins, which, in adult life, control the function and trophism of the endocrine gland. Pituitary tropins act in concert with peptide growth factors, including the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), which are considered key regulators of cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. While pituitary TSH is regarded as tumor-promoting factor for metastatic thyroid cancer, the role of other pituitary hormones in endocrine cancers is uncertain. However, multiple molecular abnormalities of the IGF system frequently occur in endocrine cancers and may have a role in tumorigenesis as well as in tumor progression and resistance to therapies. Herein, we will review studies indicating a role of IGF system dysregulation in endocrine cancers and will discuss the possible implications of these findings for tumor prevention and treatment, with a major focus on cancers from the thyroid, adrenal, and ovary, which are the most extensively studied.

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Growth Factors and Their Corresponding Receptors as Targets for Ovarian Cancer Therapy

10.1093/med/9780190248208.003.0011 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Anca Maria Cimpean ◽

Andreea Adriana Jitariu ◽

Marius Raica

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Growth Factors ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Disease Free Survival ◽

Endocrine Gland ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Free Survival ◽

Ovarian Carcinogenesis ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most aggressive and difficult to manage malignancies regarding evaluation and therapeutic options. The high mortality persists despite extensive research in the field. Current conventional chemotherapy does not improve disease-free survival and does not decrease recurrences amongst patients. This calls for a stringent reconsideration of the drugs selection, focused on the most targeted strategies and personalization of the therapy. Targeted agents against growth factors and their corresponding receptors are already approved as first- or second-line neoadjuvant therapy with controversial results. This chapter critically discusses the role of growth factors as vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factors, or platelet-derived growth factors and their corresponding receptors in the pathogenesis, progression, and selection of therapeutic strategies. Other growth factors, such as nerve growth factor or endocrine gland derived growth factor, seem to have a strong involvement in ovarian carcinogenesis but their actual impact is not fully understood.

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Endocrine Gland-Derived Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Prokineticin-1 in Cancer Development and Tumor Angiogenesis

International Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2017/3232905 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ana Silvia Corlan ◽

Anca Maria Cîmpean ◽

Adriana-Andreea Jitariu ◽

Eugen Melnic ◽

Marius Raica

Keyword(s):

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Endocrine Gland ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Endocrine Glands ◽

Normal Tissues ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

A lot of data suggests endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) to be restricted to endocrine glands and to some endocrine-dependent organs. Many evidences show that EG-VEGF stimulates angiogenesis and cell proliferation, although it is not a member of the VEGF family. At the time, a lot of data regarding the role of this growth factor in normal development are available. However, controversial results have been published in the case of pathological conditions and particularly in malignant tumors. Thus, our present paper has been focused on the role of EG-VEGF in normal tissues and various malignant tumors and their angiogenic processes.

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Endocrine control of smoltification in anadromous salmonids

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1080313 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 108 (2) ◽

pp. 313-319 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

M. G. Barron

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Hormone ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Endocrine Glands ◽

Endocrine Control ◽

Regulatory Ability ◽

Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽

Thyroid Axis ◽

Recent Attention ◽

Endocrine Tissues

ABSTRACT The parr–smolt transformation (smoltification) of juvenile anadromous salmonids involves a morphological, physiological and behavioural metamorphosis of the fish from a freshwater-adapted form to a saltwater-adapted form. Several endocrine glands are activated during the period of smoltification, including pituitary, thyroid, and interrenal tissues. The pituitary-thyroid axis appears to be the endocrine system most directly involved in controlling smoltification. A plasma thyroid hormone surge occurs during smoltification which appears to influence various tissues and other endocrine systems, and to induce the well-documented developmental changes associated with smoltification. The pituitary-interrenal axis has been implicated in several smoltification-related events, including development of hypo-osmotic regulatory ability. A plasma cortisol surge closely follows the thyroid hormone surge during smoltification, but in contrast to anuran metamorphosis, the peaks do not coincide. Despite recent attention, the role of the corticosteroids in development of hypo-osmotic regulatory ability remains unclear. The other endocrine tissues of the salmonids appear to be acting trophically with the thyroid hormones, or to have little involvement in the control of smoltification. J. Endocr. (1986) 108, 313–319

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Nikolai Petrovich Goncharov (To his 60th birthday)

Problems of Endocrinology ◽

10.14341/probl11379 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 47-47

Author(s):

Editorial team of Problems of endocrinology

Keyword(s):

Steroid Hormones ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Human Reproduction ◽

Human Leukemia ◽

Endocrine Glands ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Scientific Papers ◽

Endocrine Secretion ◽

Hormonal Analysis

60 years have passed since the birth of the famous scientist biochemist-endocrinologist, head of the laboratory of biochemical endocrinology and hormonal analysis of the Endocrinology Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, doctor of medical sciences, professor Nikolai Petrovich Goncharov. He is a pioneer in the study of the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones in primates; he developed and implemented an adequate experimental model within the framework of the WHO Human Reproduction program to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, efficacy and safety of both new steroid preparations and regulators of endocrine secretion of steroid hormones. A significant section of the research of N.P. Goncharov is devoted to a comparative study of the endocrine system of primates, the endocrine support of the stress response, the formation of the function of the endocrine glands in various periods of postnatal ontogenesis, and the role of steroid hormones in the pathogenesis of human leukemia. He is an author of about 200 scientific papers on various problems of hormone biochemistry and endocrinology.

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The Emerging Role of the Insulin-like Growth Factors in Oral Biology

Journal of Dental Research ◽

10.1177/154405910408301102 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 83 (11) ◽

pp. 832-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

H. Werner ◽

J. Katz

Keyword(s):

Growth Factors ◽

Igf System ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Tissue Healing ◽

System Components ◽

Igf I ◽

Key Factor ◽

Oral Malignancies ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factors

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF) are a family of growth factors, receptors and binding proteins that are involved in numerous growth and differentiation processes, as well as in various pathological conditions. The aim of this review is to summarize data that has been accumulating in recent years linking the IGF system to a number of physiological and pathological oral processes. The IGF system fulfills an important role in growth and development of teeth, mandible, maxillae, and tongue. It has been postulated that IGF-I may be of great value in the treatment of periodontal defects and in tissue healing. Furthermore, IGF-II has been shown to be overexpressed in salivary gland adenomas, suggesting that aberrant IGF signaling may be a key factor in the etiology of oral malignancies. Understanding the role and regulation of IGF system components in salivary glands and other oral structures will be of significant basic and clinical relevance.

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Endocrine changes in patients with acute organophosphate poisoning

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1191/096032799678839419 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 598-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

M Güven ◽

F Bayram ◽

K Ünlühizarci ◽

F Kelestimur

Keyword(s):

Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽

Normal Values ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Pituitary Hormones ◽

Organophosphate Poisoning ◽

Organophosphate Compounds ◽

Medical Intensive Care ◽

Sick Euthyroid

In critical illness, several drugs and various stressful conditions modify the functions of neurotransmitters which consequently affect the secretion of pituitary hormones. Although the role of neurotransmitters in the regulation of endocrine system is well known, cholinergic actions have been less investigated. In animals, cholinesterase inhibitors were shown to modify the pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal axes, and to affect prolactin levels. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the organophosphate compounds on endocrine system, particularly pituitary hormones. This prospective study was performed in Medical Intensive Care Unit of Erciyes University Medical School Hospital. Twenty-two consecutive patients (ten males and 12 females aged 28+8 years) with organophosphate poisoning were included in the study. ACTH (P50.002), cortisol (P50.0005) and PRL (P50.005) levels were significantly higher during poisoning than after resolution of poisoning. FSH levels were significantly lower during poisoning (P50.05). Sick euthyroid syndrome was determined in seven patients (31.8%). Two of them had low fT3 (with normal fT4 and TSH), two had low fT4 (with normal fT3 and TSH) and three had low TSH (with normal fT3 and fT4) levels. Serum levels of these hormones returned to normal values after resolution of poisoning. The present study demonstrated that organophosphate compounds affected PRL, ACTH and cortisol levels, but did not change LH levels. Organophosphate compounds may result in sick euthyroid syndrome. These conditions may be related to the effects of acetylcholine and direct effect of organophosphate compounds.

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Alopecia and Clinical Presentation of Endocrinopathies: Pathogenetic and Diagnostic Aspects

The Russian Archives of Internal Medicine ◽

10.20514/2226-6704-2021-11-4-245-254 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 245-254

Author(s):

E. A. Praskurnichiy ◽

S. A. Gracheva ◽

N. V. Kugan ◽

O. M. Maslennikova

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Growth Factors ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Frequent Symptom ◽

Diagnostic Aspects ◽

Key Aspects ◽

Active Substances

The review examines the key aspects of the pathogenesis of alopecia in endocrine system pathology. The role of hormones, growth factors, cytokines and other biologically active substances has been demonstrated. Alopecia is a frequent symptom that can be the result of not only gerontological, but also endocrinological problems. Therefore, time-consuming differential diagnosis is often necessary. Diagnosis is more effective if a team of specialists is involved: endocrinologist, gynecologist, andrologist, dermatologist / trichologist, and others.

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Neural integration of the hormonal contribution to homeostasis

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700016797 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 154-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

CS Breathnach

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Autonomic Nervous System ◽

Neural Control ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Pituitary Hormones ◽

Endocrine Glands ◽

Psychological Disturbances ◽

Neural Integration ◽

The Brain ◽

Vast Area

AbstractApart from well known areas of overlap between endocrinology and psychiatry (e.g. studies, in psychiatric disorders, of neurohormones and of the response to manipulations of hypothalamic-pituitary-target gland axis, and analysis of behavioural and psychological disturbances in endocrinological disorders) there is a more intimate intrinsic relationship between the brain and the endocrine system which is less well known or studied. Many of the extracranial endocrine glands have autonomic innervation. Like the pituitary gland which is under direct neural (as well as humoral) diencephalic control, the extracranial endocrine glands are under direct neural control, integrated by the hypothalamus and “head ganglion of the autonomic nervous system”. Yet it is only in the case of the pancreatic islets that this integration has been clearly defined. It is postulated that by this innervation the somatic endocrine glands can respond to homeostatic needs with a rapid initial secretion before the more sustained outpouring of humoral agents typically regulated by blood-borne constituents including pituitary hormones. This is a vast area awaiting further investigation.

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