Genomic Insights Into Adrenal Cancer and Patient Survival
By: T. Carling, A. Sun-Zhang, C. C. Juhlin, U. Scholl, M. Schott, C. Larsson, S. Bajalica-Lagercrantz
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare adrenal cancer with a poor prognosis. In the new study led in part by Dr. Carling, researchers analyzed tumor samples from more than 160 patients across the U.S and Europe, combining genetic and clinical data to uncover what separates more dangerous tumors from less aggressive ones.
They found thousands of genes behaving differently in ACC versus benign adrenal tumors. Out of those, a set of 461 genes showed levels of activity that directly predict patient survival. Even more striking, 45 of these genes also carried mutations that were tied to worse outcomes — not just because of tumor size or stage, but independently. Some of these include genes you may not have heard before (like POLD1, AURKA, KIF23), and they interact with well-known cancer regulators like TP53.
What this means for patients: better, more accurate tools to predict which tumors are more aggressive, and possibly new targets for treatment in the future. The study lays critical groundwork for precision therapies in ACC — moving us closer to personalized treatment plans that can improve survival and reduce unnecessary treatment burdens.
