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Review
. 2021 Jun 25;10(7):580.
doi: 10.3390/biology10070580.

A Critical Appraisal of Contemporary and Novel Biomarkers in Pheochromocytomas and Adrenocortical Tumors

Marina Tsoli  1 , Kosmas Daskalakis  2 , Eva Kassi  1 , Gregory Kaltsas  1 , Apostolos V Tsolakis  3   4
Affiliations
Review

A Critical Appraisal of Contemporary and Novel Biomarkers in Pheochromocytomas and Adrenocortical Tumors

Marina Tsoli et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

Pheochromocytomas/Paragangliomas (PPGLs) and adrenocortical tumors are rare neoplasms with significant heterogeneity in their biologic and clinical behavior. Current diagnostic and predictive biomarkers include hormone secretion, as well as histopathological and genetic features. PPGL diagnosis is based on biochemical measurement of catecholamines/metanephrines, while histopathological scoring systems have been proposed to predict the risk of malignancy. Adrenocortical tumors are mostly benign, but some can be malignant. Currently, the stage of disease at diagnosis and tumor grade, appear to be the most powerful prognostic factors. However, recent genomic and proteomic studies have identified new genetic and circulating biomarkers, including genes, immunohistochemical markers and micro-RNAs that display high specificity and sensitivity as diagnostic or prognostic tools. In addition, new molecular classifications have been proposed that divide adrenal tumors in distinct subgroups with different clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Ki-67; chromogranin A; genetic; metanephrines; micro-RNA; molecular.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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