Surgery indicates higher survival with adrenal cortical carcinoma

CHICAGO – Patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) who opt for surgery are predicted to survive significantly longer than those who choose chemotherapy or radiation at all stages, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.

These findings, uncovered using the largest cancer registry in the United States, will help give physicians insight into what the best course of action is for treating their patients, according to presenters.

“Surgical resection of the primary tumor improved survival in all stages of disease, whereas adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy or radiation improved overall survival only in stage IVpatients,” said Sri Harsha Tella, MD, endocrinologist at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. “These results may help the prognostication of patients in treatment decision making.”

Investigators conducted a retrospective study of 3,185 pathologically confirmed cases of ACC, registered into the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2015.