CClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT01348698Updated Nov 26, 2018Results posted

Evaluation of Molecular Markers in Adrenal Tumors

An observational study in Adrenal Gland Neoplasms, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-11-26.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Observational

Why this study was terminated
Slow/insufficient accrual
Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
74
Ages
18 Years to 90 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Background:

  • Tumors of the adrenal gland are common. Most of them are not cancerous. However, there are no tests that can accurately tell which adrenal tumors are cancerous and which are not. The only way to tell is to remove the tumor with surgery and then examine it. Researchers have been using new methods to study samples of adrenal tissue. These methods may help identify whether the cells are or may become cancerous without an operation. This information will help doctors determine which tumors will need to be removed.

Objectives:

  • To collect adrenal tumor tissue biopsy samples in order to study and evaluate new methods that may help identify cancerous or precancerous cells.

Eligibility:

  • Individuals at least 18 years of age who have an adrenal tumor that may or may not be cancerous.

Design:

  • Participants will be screened with a physical examination, medical history, blood and urine tests, and imaging studies.
  • Participants will be examined to determine whether they have a specific type of adrenal tumor

(pheochromocytoma).

  • Participants whose tumor does not secrete hormones will have a tumor biopsy to collect tissue for study.
  • Participants who have a large tumor or one that secretes hormones will have standard surgery to remove the tumor. Tissue will be collected for study.
  • Researchers will examine the collected tissue. They will try to determine whether the cells are cancerous or may become cancerous.
  • Participants will be asked to return to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center every year for about 5 years. During these visits they will have imaging studies, lab tests, and a physical examination.
Read the detailed description

Background:

  • Adrenal neoplasms are common and are incidentally discovered in 4-10% of abdominal imaging studies.
  • The majority of adrenal incidentalomas are cortical adenoma.
  • Many patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas undergo adrenalectomy to exclude a cancer diagnosis.
  • There are no reliable clinical, radiographic or laboratory studies that accurately distinguish between localized benign and malignant adrenal neoplasm.
  • This protocol is designed to determine the feasibility and accuracy of using novel molecular markers of malignant adrenal neoplasm in fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and surgically resected samples.

Objectives:

  • Primary Objectives:

    • To evaluate the feasibility of molecular testing in adrenal neoplasm FNA biopsy samples.
    • To determine the accuracy of novel diagnostic molecular markers in clinical adrenal FNA biopsy and surgically resected samples.
  • Secondary Objectives:

    • To analyze the gene expression level relative to disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma

Eligibility:

  • An individual with an adrenal neoplasm greater than 2cm in size
  • Age greater than or equal to 18 years
  • Adults must be able to understand and sign the informed consent document

Design:

  • Prospective observational study.
  • Demographic, clinical, laboratory and pathologic data will be collected for each patient participant. Data will be securely stored in a computerized database.
  • Patients will have biochemical testing to determine if their adrenal neoplasm is functioning or nonfunctioning.
  • After their initial on-study evaluation, patients who are found to have a nonfunctioning adrenal tumor with a low risk of malignancy will be re-screened every year for 5 years with non-invasive imaging studies.
  • Treatment of patients with an adrenal neoplasm will be performed based on standard clinical practice.
  • Projected accrual will be 50 patients per year for a total of 10 years. Thus, we anticipate accruing 500 patients on this protocol.
02

Conditions studied

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Keywords

  • Adrenal Cancer
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Functioning Tumor
  • Nonfunctioning Tumor
  • Gene Expression
  • Adrenal Tumor
03

In context

Neoplasms

9,365 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms; 2,489 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 74 is below the median of 204 across 1,683 observational studies indexed under Neoplasms.

Browse Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the lead sponsor of 3,506 studies on the registry; 334 are open to participants now.

Of its 402 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 365 (91%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Individuals at least 18 years of age who have an adrenal tumor that may or may not be cancerous. An individual with an adrenal neoplasm greater than 2cm in size.

Inclusion criteria

  1. An individual with a primary localized adrenal neoplasm greater than 2 cm in size

    1. Age greater than or equal to 18 years
    2. Adults must be able to understand and sign the informed consent document
    3. Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score of 0-2.
    4. Patients must have laboratory and physical examination parameters within acceptable limits by standard of practice guidelines prior to biopsy or surgery Note: patients with suspected but unconfirmed adrenal neoplasm may be enrolled.

Exclusion criteria

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Biochemically proven Pheochromocytoma
  2. Women who are pregnant because of the possible side effects of radiation from computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsies to the unborn child.
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
74 participants (actual)

Groups and cohorts

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasm

    To collect adrenal tumor tissue biopsy samples in order to study and evaluate new methods that may help identify cancerous or precancerous cells. Participants who have a large tumor or one that secretes hormones will have standard surgery to remove the tumor.

    Procedure: Tumor tissue biopsy · Procedure: Surgery

Interventions

  • ProcedureTumor tissue biopsy

    Participants whose tumor does not secrete hormones will have a tumor biopsy to collect tissue for the study.

  • ProcedureSurgery

    Participants who have a large tumor or one that secretes hormones will have standard surgery to remove the tumor. Tissue will be collected for study.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility of Molecular Testing in Adrenal Neoplasm Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Samples

    Feasibility of molecular testing in adrenal neoplasm fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples was determined by immunohistochemistry. Ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from fine needle aspiration and tumor tissue samples to differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.

    Time frame: 5 years

  2. Determine the Accuracy of Novel Diagnostic Molecular Markers in Clinical Adrenal Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy and Surgically Resected Samples

    Tumor tissue obtained via FNA and surgical resection were to be analyzed for molecular markers to help determine if cells were cancerous or may become cancerous.

    Time frame: 5 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. To Analyze the Gene Expression Level Relative to Disease-free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients With Adrenocortical Carcinoma

    Gene expression levels were to be analyzed relative to disease free and overall survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

    Time frame: 5 years

  2. Number of Participants With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events Assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0)

    Here is the count of participants with serious and non-serious adverse events assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0). A non-serious adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence. A serious adverse event is an adverse event or suspected adverse reaction that results in death, a life threatening adverse drug experience, hospitalization, disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions, congenital anomaly/birth defect or important medical events that jeopardize the patient or subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the previous outcomes mentioned.

    Time frame: Date treatment consent signed to date off study, approximately 6 years and 58 days

07

Results

Posted Nov 26, 2018

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneAdrenal Gland Neoplasm
Started74
Completed2
Not completed72
Withdrew: Does not meet lesion size criteria1
Withdrew: Death3
Withdrew: Pi decision to close study68

Outcome measures

PrimaryFeasibility of Molecular Testing in Adrenal Neoplasm Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Samples

Feasibility of molecular testing in adrenal neoplasm fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples was determined by immunohistochemistry. Ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from fine needle aspiration and tumor tissue samples to differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.

Time frame:
5 years

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

PrimaryDetermine the Accuracy of Novel Diagnostic Molecular Markers in Clinical Adrenal Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy and Surgically Resected Samples

Tumor tissue obtained via FNA and surgical resection were to be analyzed for molecular markers to help determine if cells were cancerous or may become cancerous.

Time frame:
5 years

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondaryTo Analyze the Gene Expression Level Relative to Disease-free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients With Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Gene expression levels were to be analyzed relative to disease free and overall survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

Time frame:
5 years

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondaryNumber of Participants With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events Assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0)

Here is the count of participants with serious and non-serious adverse events assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0). A non-serious adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence. A serious adverse event is an adverse event or suspected adverse reaction that results in death, a life threatening adverse drug experience, hospitalization, disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions, congenital anomaly/birth defect or important medical events that jeopardize the patient or subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the previous outcomes mentioned.

Time frame:
Date treatment consent signed to date off study, approximately 6 years and 58 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events Assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0)
ParticipantsAdrenal Gland Neoplasm
Number of Participants With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events Assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0)3

Adverse events

Collected over Date treatment consent signed to date off study, approximately 6 years and 58 days.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Adrenal Gland Neoplasm3/74 (4.1%)3/74 (4.1%)0/74 (0%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventAdrenal Gland Neoplasm
DeathGeneral disorders3/74

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years60
>=65 years14
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
Mean54.33 ± 12.58
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
Female56
Male18
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
Hispanic or Latino11
Not Hispanic or Latino62
Unknown or Not Reported1
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian3
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander1
Black or African American17
White47
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported6
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(Participants)Adrenal Gland Neoplasm
United States74
08

Study locations

1 site
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Kloos RT, Gross MD, Francis IR, Korobkin M, Shapiro B. Incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Endocr Rev. 1995 Aug;16(4):460-84. doi: 10.1210/edrv-16-4-460. PubMed 8521790 ↗
  • NIH state-of-the-science statement on management of the clinically inapparent adrenal mass ("incidentaloma"). NIH Consens State Sci Statements. 2002 Feb 4-6;19(2):1-25. PubMed 14768652 ↗
  • Toniato A, Boschin I, Bernante P, Foletto M, Guolo AM, Pelizzo MR, Opocher G, Ballotta E, Mantero F. Factors influencing the rising rates of adrenal surgery: analysis of a 25-year experience. Surg Endosc. 2009 Mar;23(3):503-7. doi: 10.1007/s00464-008-0061-3. Epub 2008 Jul 15. PubMed 18626702 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol, analysis plan and consent form · Jun 28, 2017

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 26, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01348698
Lead sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Responsible party
Naris Nilubol, M.D. (Principal Investigator, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 5, 2011
Start date
May 4, 2011
Primary completion
Jan 12, 2018
Completion
Jan 12, 2018
Results posted
Nov 26, 2018
Last update
Nov 26, 2018

Study contacts

Naris Nilubol, M.D.
principal investigator · National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is terminated, as verified in Oct 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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