title: Functional genomics approaches for the study of sporadic adrenal tumor pathogenesis: clinical implications.
abstract: Although sporadic adrenal tumors are frequently encountered in the general population their pathogenesis is not well elucidated. The advent of functional genomics/bioinformatics tools enabling large scale comprehensive genome expression profiling should contribute to significant progress in this field. Some studies have already been published describing gene expression profiles of benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors and phaeochromocytomas. Several genes coding for growth factors and their receptors, enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, genes related to the regulation of cell cycle, cell proliferation, adhesion and intracellular metabolism have been found to be up- or downregulated in various tumors. Some alterations in gene expression appear so specific for certain tumor types that their application in diagnosis, determination of prognosis and the choice of therapy can be envisaged. In this short review, the authors will present a synopsis of these recent findings that seem to open new perspectives in adrenal tumor pathogenesis, with emphasis on changes in steroidogenic enzyme expression profiles and highlighting possible clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 46, Hungary, and Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital, Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon, Switzerland. igapet@bel2.sote.hu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Igaz
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falus
authors.forename: Rolf C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horányi
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rácz
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tulassay
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor