Is There a Role of Targeted Agents in the Management of Adrenocortical Cancers?

Abstract

Background. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive tumor arising from the adrenal cortex with an incidence of one to two cases per million within the general US population. Recent developments in the understanding of the pathogenesis of ACC have led to multiple clinical trials involving targeted agents in the management of ACC. Patients and Methods. We report two cases of refractory adrenocortical cancer (cisplatin, adriamycin, etoposide, and mitotane) who were treated with targeted agents such as erlotinib and sutent, respectively. A total of 2 women with adrenocortical cancer were reviewed and followed for a median time of 6 months. Radiological response, duration of response and toxicities were evaluated. Results. In both cases, the targeted agents were able to control the disease for a short duration, but due to the deterioration in performance status and fatigue the agents were discontinued. Conclusion. The current observations emphasize the need for better targeted treatment modalities and strategies for the management of this fatal disease.