Molecular basis of pharmacological therapy in Cushing’s disease

Abstract

Cushing's disease (CD) is a severe endocrine condition caused by an adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-producing pituitary adenoma that chronically stimulates adrenocortical cortisol production and with potentially serious complications if not or inadequately treated. Active CD may produce a fourfold increase in mortality and is associated with significant morbidities. Moreover, excess mortality risk may persist even after CD treatment. Although predictors of risk in treated CD are not fully understood, the importance of early recognition and adequate treatment is well established. Surgery with resection of a pituitary adenoma is still the first line therapy, being successful in about 60-70 % of patients; however, recurrence within 2-4 years may often occur. When surgery fails, medical treatment can reduce cortisol production and ameliorate clinical manifestations while more definitive therapy becomes effective. Compounds that target hypothalamic-pituitary axis, glucocorticoid synthesis or adrenocortical function are currently used to control the deleterious effects of chronic glucocorticoid excess. In this review we describe and analyze the molecular basis of the drugs targeting the disease at central level, suppressing ACTH secretion, as well as at peripheral level, acting as adrenal inhibitors, or glucocorticoid receptor antagonists. Understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in CD and of glucocorticoid biology should promote the development of new targeted and more successful therapies in the future. Indeed, most of the drugs discussed have been tested in limited clinical trials, but there is potential therapeutic benefit in compounds with better specificity for the class of receptors expressed by ACTH-secreting tumors. However, long-term follow-up with management of persistent comorbidities is needed even after successful treatment of CD.

Treatment of Cushing's disease: a mechanistic update

“…3; Rocheville et al 2000, Ren et al 2003, de Bruin et al 2009). Studies on different tumor models, including pituitary adenomas, revealed a higher potency of BIM-23A779, BIM-23A760, and BIM-23A781 (chimeric molecules containing both SST and dopamine structural elements) in controlling tumor cell growth (Ferone et al 2013). Further studies of patients with CD are required.…”

“…It is highly expressed in Potential novel therapeutic targets for CD. From left to right; the effect of V3 receptor-specific antagonists that could lead to a new class of agents that can suppress ACTH secretion in corticotrope adenomas (Ferone et al 2013). After blocking of EGFR, a tyrosine kinase receptor, POMC expression is attenuated, and inhibition of corticotrope cell proliferation and apoptosis can be induced (Fukuoka et al 2011).…”

“…After blocking of EGFR, a tyrosine kinase receptor, POMC expression is attenuated, and inhibition of corticotrope cell proliferation and apoptosis can be induced (Fukuoka et al 2011). Through membrane interaction or dimerization (Rocheville et al 2000), the G-protein-coupled somatostatin receptor (SSTR) and dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) have a synergistic effect on controlling tumor cell growth and ACTH secretion (de Bruin et al 2009, Ferone et al 2013. The main proteins of each receptor signaling pathway are depicted.…”

“…However, development of V3-receptor-specific antagonists could lead to a new class of agents that suppress ACTH secretion in corticotrope adenomas ( Fig. 3; Ferone et al 2013).…”

“…Interestingly, such resistance can effectively be overcome using octreotide as a cotreatment. If CD is treated first with an SRL, and then with an mTOR inhibitor, control of hypercortisolism may be more easily achieved (Ferone et al 2013). …”