HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article IMMEDIATE FREE ACCESS ARTICLE OA Free Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zatelli, M. C. Articles by Uberti, E. C d. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zatelli, M. C. Articles by Uberti, E. C d.

Control of pituitary adenoma cell proliferation by somatostatin analogs, dopamine agonists and novel chimeric compounds

Section of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, University of Ferrara, Via Savonarola 9, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

(Correspondence should be addressed to M C Zatelli; Email: ztlmch{at}unife.it)

This paper was presented at a symposium held at the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2005. The symposium was jointly organized by LJ Hofland, Erasmus Medical Center, and A Colao, Federico II University of Naples, Italy. Ipsen partially supported the publication of these proceedings.

Abstract

The antisecretory effects of somatostatin (SRIH) and its analogs are widely recognized and provide the basis for treatment of hormonal hypersecretion in patients with pituitary adenomas, especially in the settings of acromegaly. Dopamine (DA) agonists have also been used for medical treatment of prolactin and/or GH hypersecretion, and recent evidence points to an even greater antisecretory effect for a chimeric molecule, having high affinity for both SRIH and DA receptors. Evidence for an antiproliferative effect of these compounds has also been provided. This review focuses on the antiproliferative effects of SRIH and its analogs, of DA and chimeric compounds on pituitary adenomas, and on the clinical consequences on tumor volume of pharmacological treatment of pituitary adenomas with these drugs.