Active clinical trials for "Pituitary Diseases"

This study will determine the safety and activity of a new formulation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a drug used for diagnosing and evaluating patients with certain thyroid gland abnormalities. Normal thyroid gland function depends on proper chemical signaling between the thyroid gland, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain where TRH is made), and the pituitary (another part of the brain). The TRH test helps assess this interaction. Production of the only FDA-approved preparation of TRH was stopped in July 2002. As a result, to have a continuous source of TRH available for NIH clinical and research purposes, the NIH Clinical Center (CC) Pharmacy Department produced a pharmaceutical grade formulation of TRH for patient use. This study will test the CC formulation in healthy volunteers to show that its activity and side effects are similar to those of the previously available commercial test preparation. It will then be studied in CC patients for whom the diagnostic test is recommended. Healthy volunteers between 18 and 65 years of age and all patients requiring TRH evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid gland interaction may be eligible for this study. Patients include those with pituitary reserve, inconsistent thyroid function test, inappropriate TSH secretion, or pre- and post-operative evaluation of pituitary tumors. Normal volunteers will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. Women of child-bearing potential will be given a pregnancy test; pregnant and breast-feeding women may not participate. The TRH test procedure will be the same for healthy volunteers and patients. All participants fast from midnight before the morning of the test. In the morning, a catheter (flexible plastic tube) is inserted into an arm vein for easy injection of the TRH and collection of blood samples. Blood pressure is monitored before and during the test. A blood sample is drawn, and then TRH is given through the catheter over a 1-minute period. Another nine blood samples are collected over a 3-hour period from the time of the TRH injection for measuring levels of various hormones. A total of less than 4 tablespoons of blood is taken for the test.

RATIONALE: Antineoplastons are naturally-occurring substances that may also be made in the laboratory. Antineoplastons may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well antineoplaston therapy works in treating patients with neuroendocrine tumor that is metastatic or unlikely to respond to surgery or radiation therapy.

Nasal packing is required after endoscopic pituitary adenoma resection. The patient can only breathe through the mouth. The blood and secretion in the nasal cavity may be inhaled into the trachea after the operation. GH-secreting pituitary adenoma causes pharyngeal soft tissue and tongue hypertrophy. These conditions increase the risk of respiratory obstruction and hypoxemia during anesthesia recovery. Propofol total intravenous anesthesia has a rapid effect and a low incidence of nausea and vomiting. Patients anesthetized with desflurane recover quickly is conducive to early recovery of respiratory function and orientation. This study intends to compare the effects of desflurane and propofol on the quality of anesthesia recovery period in patients undergoing endonasal endoscopic pituitary adenoma resection and to provide clinical evidence for the use of desflurane in neurosurgical anesthesia.

There is evidence that has shown that serum testosterone levels are low in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The question arises as to whether the defect in testosterone production is from the hypothalamic pituitary system (part of the brain that plays a role in testosterone release) or from the male testes. Studies to date are inconclusive. This study, will examine if persons with SCI has a normal hormonal regulation of the male hormone testosterone in comparison to persons who are able-bodied. This will help understand the physical and metabolic changes that occur in persons with SCI.

This phase II trial studies how well 177Lu-DOTATATE works in treating patients with rare endocrine cancers that have spread from where they started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced), spread to other places in the body (metastatic), or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Radioactive drugs, such as 177Lu-DOTATATE, may carry radiation directly to cancer cells and not harm normal cells. 177Lu-DOTATATE may help to control endocrine cancers compared to standard treatment.

There is a need for improved visualization of presence and extent of pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) tissue during transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), especially in tumors invading the cavernous sinus (CS). Optical molecular imaging of PitNET associated biomarkers is a promising technique to accommodate this need. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) is overexpressed in PitNET tissue compared to normal pituitary tissue and has proven to be a valid target for molecular imaging. Bevacizumab is an antibody that binds VEGF-A. By conjugating a fluorescent dye to this antibody, the fluorescent tracer molecule bevacizumab-800CW is created, which binds to VEGF-A. The investigators hypothesize that bevacizumab-800CW accumulates in PitNET tissue, enabling visualization using a molecular fluorescence endoscopy system. In this pilot intervention study the investigators will determine the feasibility of using microdoses (4.5, 10 and 25 mg) of bevacizumab-800CW to detect PitNET tissue intraoperatively.

The primary aim of the study is to describe the effect of a single oral dose of semaglutide 7 mg on growth hormone secretion.

Background: Cushing s disease can be caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, a small gland about the size of a pea located at the base of the brain. These tumors produce high levels of hormones, which cause obesity, diabetes, and growth problems. The cure for this type of Cushing s disease is to have surgery that removes the tumor but leaves the pituitary gland alone. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging scans are the best way to find these tumors. However, many of these tumors do not show up on the scan. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans use radioactive chemicals to light up parts of the body that are more active, such as tumors. Researchers want to try to make the small Cushing s disease tumors more active to help them show up on the scans. A special hormone will be given before the scan to make the tumors more active. Objectives: - To test the use of hormone stimulation to improve brain scans for Cushing s disease tumors. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 8 years of age who will be having surgery to remove Cushing s disease tumors. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, blood and urine tests, and imaging studies. They will have three brain scans before surgery. The first scan is a magnetic resonance imaging scan to show a full picture of the brain. The second and third scans are PET scans. The first PET scan will be given without the special hormone. The second PET scan will be done more than 24 hours but less than 14 days after the first PET scan. The second PET scan will be given with the special hormone. Participants will have tumor removal surgery through another study protocol.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether therapy with farletuzumab is effective and safe in the treatment of resectable, non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well temozolomide works in treating patients with invasive pituitary tumors.