Angelousi, Anna

Abstract Background Mitotane monotherapy is the standard adjuvant treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), yet reliable predictors of treatment response remain lacking. Given the well-recognized interplay between inflammation and cancer progression, serum inflammation-based scores have shown prognostic significance in various malignancies, including ACC in palliative settings. However, their relevance during adjuvant mitotane therapy remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of inflammation-scores in patients with ACC receiving adjuvant mitotane. Methods Multicenter ENSAT retrospective study including patients with ACC treated with adjuvant mitotane as first-line therapy. Clinical data including age, sex, ENSAT tumor stage, Ki67 index, resection status, and hormone secretion were collected at diagnosis. Inflammation-scores - neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) - were calculated at diagnosis (pre-surgery) and at mitotane start. Median values of inflammation-scores at diagnosis defined low and high levels. Overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) from mitotane start were the primary endpoints. Results The study included 395 patients (66% female; median age: 51 years). Median time to mitotane start was 54 days (IQR: 32–90). At diagnosis, patients with glucocorticoid excess (n=84) had significantly higher inflammation-scores than those without (n=104): NLR (3.61 vs 2.53), dNLR (2.31 vs 1.72), SII (864.1 vs 679.3), and PIV (531.6 vs 343.1); all p≤0.005. All scores significantly declined after surgery (p<0.05). Higher inflammatory scores at diagnosis were associated with worse OS (NLR: HR=3.85, 95%CI=1.95–7.59, p<0.001; dNLR: HR=3.19, 95%CI=1.67- 6.08, p<0.001; SII: HR=1.97, 95%CI = 1.07–3.61, p=0.03; PIV: HR=2.11, 95%CI=1.13-3.95, p=0.02). However, only the NLR and dNLR remained independently associated with OS at multivariate analysis adjusted for ENSAT stage, Ki67 index, and resection status (p<0.05). At mitotane start (n=372), high SII and PIV were associated with shorter TTP (SII: HR=1.36, 95%CI=1.02-1.82, p=0.03; PIV: HR=1.40, 95%CI=1.04-1-87, p=0.02), with only SII remaining significant at multivariate regression (p=0.04). Conclusions Inflammation-based scores are higher in patients with glucocorticoid excess and decrease postoperatively. NLR and dNLR at diagnosis, and SII at mitotane start, are associated with clinical outcomes in patients with ACC receiving mitotane adjuvant monotherapy. These readily available markers may help improve prognostic stratification in clinical practice.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a dismal prognosis and a high rate of recurrence and mortality. Therapeutic options are limited. In some cases, the distinction of ACCs from benign adrenal neoplasms with the existing widely available pathological and histopathological tools is difficult. Thus, new biomarkers have been tested. We conducted a review of the recent literature on the advances of the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic role of miRNAs on ACC patients. More than 10 miRNAs validated by multiple studies were found to present a diagnostic and prognostic role for ACC patients, from which miR-483-5p and miR-195 were the most frequently met biomarkers. In particular, upregulation of miR-483-5p and downregulation of miR-195 were the most commonly validated molecular alterations. Unfortunately, data on the therapeutic role of miRNA are still scarce and limited mainly at the experimental level. Thus, the role of miRNA regulation in ACC remains an area of active research.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an orphan disease lacking effective systemic treatment options. The low incidence of the disease and high cost of clinical trials are major obstacles in the search for improved treatment strategies. As a novel approach, registry-based clinical trials have been introduced in clinical research, so allowing for significant cost reduction, but without compromising scientific benefit. Herein, we describe how the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours (ENSAT) could transform its current registry into one fit for a clinical trial infrastructure. The rationale to perform randomized registry-based trials in ACC is outlined including an analysis of relevant limitations and challenges. We summarize a survey on this concept among ENSAT members who expressed a strong interest in the concept and rated its scientific potential as high. Legal aspects, including ethical approval of registry-based randomization were identified as potential obstacles. Finally, we describe three potential randomized registry-based clinical trials in an adjuvant setting and for advanced disease with a high potential to be executed within the framework of an advanced ENSAT registry. Thus we, therefore, provide the basis for future registry-based trials for ACC patients. This could ultimately provide proof-of-principle of how to perform more effective randomized trials for an orphan disease.