ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT01005654Updated Nov 5, 2026

Prospective Comprehensive Molecular Analysis of Endocrine Neoplasms

An observational study in Endocrine Tumors, Thyroid Neoplasms and Parathyroid Neoplasms, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 4 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-05.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Oct 2009; still recruiting 17 years 1 month later.
Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
2,415
Ages
4 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Background:

  • Endocrine neoplasms (tumors) are among the fastest growing tumors in incidence in the United States. Furthermore, it is often difficult to distinguish between benign or malignant tumors in cancers of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland, and pancreas. More research is needed to improve detection and treatment options for patients who develop these kinds of cancer.
  • Researchers are interested in studying the molecular changes that are involved in endocrine cancer development and growth. To collect a sample of tumor specimens and healthy tissue for further study, researchers are specifically looking for samples from participants who are scheduled for surgery or biopsy on endocrine tumors.

Objectives:

- To collect samples of precancerous, cancerous, and healthy tissue from individuals who are scheduled for surgery or biopsy of endocrine system tumors.

Eligibility:

- Individuals who have a tumor in or around their thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland, pancreas, or any neuroendocrine tissue, and are scheduled for surgery at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Design:

  • Participants in this study will provide blood and urine samples prior to surgery.
  • During the surgery or biopsy, pieces of the tumor or precancerous growth and pieces of normal tissue near to the tumor will be removed for ongoing and future research. The rest of the tumor or growth will be sent for analysis.
  • After surgery, participants will receive routine care until discharge, and doctors will discuss possible treatment options. If there is an appropriate NIH protocol, participants may choose to be treated at the NIH.
  • After discharge, participants will return to the clinic for a routine postoperative check about 6 weeks following the operation, and then may be followed yearly at the Clinical Center or by phone.
Read the detailed description

Background:

Endocrine neoplasms are among the fastest growing tumors in incidence in the United States. Between 1995 and 2005, the incidence of thyroid carcinoma has increased 98 percent.

Tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland and gastrointestinal-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are among some of the most difficult tumors to clinically and histopathological distinguish as benign or malignant.

Moreover, endocrine neoplasms provide an extremely important model for studying the important molecular changes that lead to carcinogenesis because of their diverse clinical behavior, even when having the same TNM stage and histologic features.

The Surgical Oncology Program (formerly known as Endocrine Oncology Branch), NCI has a focus on studying the molecular changes that are involved in endocrine cancer initiation and progression. In addition, this section has primary responsibility for providing endocrine surgery consultative services to the NIH. As such, we are uniquely positioned to acquire and perform important studies to help identify diagnostic and predictive markers as well as therapeutic targets that may have significant clinical ramifications.

Objectives:

To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study. This objective will drive the statistical endpoints of the study.

Eligibility:

Participants with radiographic evidence of, biochemical evidence of, or histologically/cytologically proven, endocrine neoplasms, including lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. Or participants with a described pre or potentially malignant condition that requires surgery or biopsy as a part of the standard of care treatment and/or follow up.

Participants must have an ECOG performance score of 0-2.

Participants must have physical examination parameters within acceptable limits by standard of practice guidelines prior to biopsy or surgery.

Design:

A tissue acquisition trial in which tissues will be obtained at the time of surgical operation for the removal of neoplasms of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, paragangliomas and/or extra adrenal nests of neuroendocrine tissue, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

At the time of surgical operation, blood samples will be obtained from the operative field during the removal of neoplasms of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, paragangliomas and/or extra adrenal neuroendocrine tissue and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

No investigational therapy will be given.

It is anticipated that 2,300 participants will be followed on this study, however, to account for screening up to 2,415 participants may be enrolled.

02

Conditions studied

  • Endocrine Tumors
  • Thyroid Neoplasms
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms
  • Adrenal Neoplasm
  • Neuroblastoma

Keywords

  • Gene Expression
  • Epigenetic (methylation)
  • Tissues Histological Evaluations
  • Establishment of Tumor Cell Lines
  • Metabolite and Protein Expression
  • Natural History
  • Adrenal Cancer
  • Endocrine Tumor
  • Thyroid Cancer
03

In context

Thyroid Neoplasms

785 studies on the registry are indexed under Thyroid Neoplasms; 204 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 2,415 is above the median of 178 across 241 observational studies indexed under Thyroid Neoplasms.

Browse Thyroid Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the lead sponsor of 3,556 studies on the registry; 336 are open to participants now.

Of its 411 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 373 (91%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
4 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Primary clinical@@@

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants who have an endocrine neoplasm based on radiographic and biochemical testing, or histologically/ proven lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas, gastrointestinal

track and pancreas or participants with a described pre or potentially malignant condition that requires surgery or as a part of the standard of care treatment and/or follow up.

  • Participants referred to the Endocrine Consult Service on other protocols for surgical evaluation of endocrine disorders based on radiographic and biochemical testing, or histologically/cytologically proven lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas and pancreas.
  • Participants must have an performance score of 0-2.
  • Participants must have physical examination parameters within acceptable limits by standard of practice guidelines prior to biopsy or surgery.
  • Participants must be planning to undergo surgery or biopsy as part of their treatment plan. Note: Participants will not be enrolled exclusively for the procurement of tissue samples.
  • Age >= 4 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

None.

Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
2,415 participants (estimated)

Groups and cohorts

  • 1/ Cohort 1

    Participants with endocrine neoplasm or pre or potentially malignant condition of the endocrine system, scheduled to have surgery or biopsy

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study.

    To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study.

    Time frame: 10 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. To utilize the tissue obtained from these endocrine neoplasms for studies of gene expression, epigenetic (methylation) changes, and metabolite and protein expression.

    Obtained endocrine neoplasm tissue will be used for studies of gene expression, epigenetic (methylation) changes, and metabolite and protein expression.

    Time frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy

  2. To obtain, when accessible, normal endocrine and other adjacent tissue for comparison with the neoplastic tissue including the comparison of genomic profiling data to determine the best approach for normalizing expression data.

    When accessible, normal endocrine and other adjacent tissue will be obtained for comparison with the neoplastic tissue for genomic profiling to determine the best approach for normalizing expression data.

    Time frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy

  3. To collect tissues from endocrine neoplasms arising in the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, extra-adrenal neuroendocrine nests, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors for future analysis and correlation with clinical outcome.

    Obtained endocrine neoplasm tissue in the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, extra-adrenal neuroendocrine nests, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors will be collected for future analysis and correlation with patient clinical outcome.

    Time frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, Murray T, Xu J, Smigal C, Thun MJ. Cancer statistics, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006 Mar-Apr;56(2):106-30. doi: 10.3322/canjclin.56.2.106. PubMed 16514137 ↗
  • Lee PK, Jarosek SL, Virnig BA, Evasovich M, Tuttle TM. Trends in the incidence and treatment of parathyroid cancer in the United States. Cancer. 2007 May 1;109(9):1736-41. doi: 10.1002/cncr.22599. PubMed 17372919 ↗
  • Howlett DC, Speirs A. The thyroid incidentaloma--ignore or investigate? J Ultrasound Med. 2007 Oct;26(10):1367-71. doi: 10.7863/jum.2007.26.10.1367. PubMed 17901140 ↗
  • Neychev V, Steinberg SM, Yang L, Mehta A, Nilubol N, Keil MF, Nieman L, Stratakis CA, Kebebew E. Long-Term Outcome of Bilateral Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Measured by Disease-Specific Questionnaire in a Unique Group of Patients with Cushing's Syndrome. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Dec;22 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S699-706. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-4605-1. Epub 2015 May 13. PubMed 25968622 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — All IPD recorded in the medical record will be shared with intramural investigators upon request. @@@@@@In addition, all large scale genomic sequencing data will be shared with subscribers to dbGaP.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form

Time frame: Clinical data available during the study and indefinitely.@@@@@@Genomic data are available once genomic data are uploaded per protocol GDS plan for as long as database is active.

Access criteria: Clinical data will be made available via subscription to BTRIS and with the permission of the study PI. @@@@@@Genomic data are made available via dbGaP through requests to the data custodians.

09

Updates

7 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
Minor edits
Nothing that changes what the study is or who can join. Edited: description and verification date
7 updates, last Nov 5, 2026
Show all 7 updates
  1. Nov 5, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: verification date
  2. Oct 29, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description
  3. Oct 26, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description
  4. Oct 23, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: verification date
  5. Oct 16, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 2 other changes: verification date and description
  6. Oct 13, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description
  7. Oct 8, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01005654
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 2, 2009
Start date
Oct 7, 2009
Last update
Nov 5, 2026

Study contacts

Kristine J Villaruel
Contact
ncieobinquiry@mail.nih.gov
(240) 858-7033
Naris Nilubol, M.D.
Contact
niluboln@mail.nih.gov
(240) 760-6154
Naris Nilubol, M.D.
principal investigator · National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Interested in this study?

Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.

Contact study team

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion