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Updated: May 10, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Recent developments in drug therapy for Cushing's disease.
Rob van der Pas1, Wouter W de Herder, Leo J Hofland
1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, 'sGravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Drugs
|June 6, 2013
Summary
Cushing's disease (CD) treatment involves surgery, but drug therapies are crucial for patients ineligible or unresponsive to surgery. This review details current and emerging medical treatments targeting pituitary adenomas and cortisol production.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cushing's disease (CD) results from ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas causing excess cortisol.
- Transsphenoidal surgery achieves remission in 60-90% of patients, necessitating alternative treatments for others.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and limitations of current medical therapies for Cushing's disease.
- To discuss recent advancements in pituitary- and adrenal-targeting drug development for CD.
Main Methods:
- Review of published clinical trials and in vitro studies on CD pharmacotherapy.
- Evaluation of drugs targeting ACTH production, steroidogenesis, and cortisol receptor antagonism.
Main Results:
- Pasireotide and mifepristone efficacy established in large clinical trials.
- Emerging data on LCI699, retinoic acid, and gefitinib show therapeutic potential.
Conclusions:
- Medical therapy is vital for managing Cushing's disease in specific patient groups.
- Ongoing research into novel pituitary and adrenal-targeting agents offers future treatment possibilities.
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