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Growth hormone (GH) has been used for over 35 years, and its safety and efficacy has been studied extensively. Experimental studies showing the permissive role of GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in carcinogenesis have raised concerns regarding the safety of GH replacement in children and adults who have received treatment for cancer and those with intracranial and pituitary tumours. A consensus statement was produced to guide decision-making on GH replacement in children and adult survivors of cancer, in those treated for intracranial and pituitary tumours and in patients with increased cancer risk. With the support of the European Society of Endocrinology, the Growth Hormone Research Society convened a Workshop, where 55 international key opinion leaders representing 10 professional societies were invited to participate. This consensus statement utilized: (1) a critical review paper produced before the Workshop, (2) five plenary talks, (3) evidence-based comments from four breakout groups, and (4) discussions during report-back sessions. Current evidence reviewed from the proceedings from the Workshop does not support an association between GH replacement and primary tumour or cancer recurrence. The effect of GH replacement on secondary neoplasia risk is minor compared to host- and tumour treatment-related factors. There is no evidence for an association between GH replacement and increased mortality from cancer amongst GH-deficient childhood cancer survivors. Patients with pituitary tumour or craniopharyngioma remnants receiving GH replacement do not need to be treated or monitored differently than those not receiving GH. GH replacement might be considered in GH-deficient adult cancer survivors in remission after careful individual risk/benefit analysis. In children with cancer predisposition syndromes, GH treatment is generally contraindicated but may be considered cautiously in select patients.

Hormonal regulation plays a key role in determining bone mass in humans. Both skeletal growth and bone loss in health and disease is critically controlled by endocrine factors and low bone mass is a feature of both excess and deficiency of a broad range of hormones. This article explores the impact of diabetes and thyroid, parathyroid, sex steroid and growth hormone disorders on bone mass and fracture risk. Evidence for current management strategies is provided along with suggested practice points and gaps in knowledge for future research.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and osteoporotic fracture are both more common in older patients. Exposure to R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) is likely to increase the risk of fracture, but evidence is lacking to define fracture incidence in this group. Data on consecutive patients with DLBCL aged ≥70 years treated with 1 to 8 cycles of full or attenuated R-CHOP were retrospectively collected across 10 UK centers (2009-2019). Patients were followed up from starting R-CHOP for a minimum of 6 months and censored at 18 months; at last follow-up if

Objective To collect outcome data in a large cohort of patients with aggressive pituitary tumours (APT)/carcinomas (PC) and specifically report effects of temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. Design Electronic survey to ESE members Dec 2015–Nov 2016. Results Reports on 166 patients (40 PC, 125 APT, 1 unclassified) were obtained. Median age at diagnosis was 43 (range 4–79) years. 69% of the tumours were clinically functioning, and the most frequent immunohistochemical subtype were corticotroph tumours (45%). Ki-67 index did not distinguish APT from PC, median 7% and 10% respectively. TMZ was first-line chemotherapy in 157 patients. At the end of the treatment (median 9 cycles), radiological evaluation showed complete response (CR) in 6%, partial response (PR) in 31%, stable disease (SD) in 33% and progressive disease in 30%. Response was more frequent in patients receiving concomitant radiotherapy and TMZ. CR was seen only in patients with low MGMT expression. Clinically functioning tumours were more likely to respond than non-functioning tumours, independent of MGMT status. Of patients with CR, PR and SD, 25, 40 and 48% respectively progressed after a median of 12-month follow-up. Other oncological drugs given as primary treatment and to TMZ failures resulted in PR in 20%. Conclusion This survey confirms that TMZ is established as first-line chemotherapeutic treatment of APT/PC. Clinically functioning tumours, low MGMT and concurrent radiotherapy were associated with a better response. The limited long-term effect of TMZ and the poor efficacy of other drugs highlight the need to identify additional effective therapies.

Objective Somapacitan is a reversible albumin-binding growth hormone (GH) derivative, developed for once-weekly administration. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of once-weekly somapacitan vs once-daily Norditropin®. Local tolerability and treatment satisfaction were also assessed. Design 26-week randomized, controlled phase 3 safety and tolerability trial in six countries (Nbib2382939). Methods Male or female patients aged 18–79 years with adult GH deficiency (AGHD), treated with once-daily GH for ≥6 months, were randomized to once-weekly somapacitan (n = 61) or once-daily Norditropin (n = 31) administered subcutaneously by pen. Both treatments were dose titrated for 8 weeks to achieve insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) standard deviation score (SDS) levels within the normal range, and then administered at a fixed dose. Outcome measures were adverse events (AEs), including injection site reactions; occurrence of anti-somapacitan/anti-GH antibodies and change in treatment satisfaction, assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication-9 (TSQM-9). Results Mean IGF-I SDS remained between 0 and 2 SDS throughout the trial in both groups. AEs were mostly mild or moderate and transient in nature. The most common AEs were nasopharyngitis, headache and fatigue in both groups. More than 1500 somapacitan injections were administered and no clinically significant injection site reactions were reported. No anti-somapacitan or anti-GH antibodies were detected. The TSQM-9 score for convenience increased significantly more with somapacitan vs Norditropin (P = 0.0171). Conclusions In this 26-week trial in patients with AGHD, somapacitan was well tolerated and no safety issues were identified. Once-weekly somapacitan was reported to be more convenient than once-daily Norditropin.

Introduction Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and osteoporotic fracture are commoner in older patients (pts). Steroids and chemotherapy are recognised as a risk factor (RF) for fragility-related fracture and its associated morbidity. A small randomised trial (RCT) (Westin 2013) showed bisphosphonates stabilize bone mineral density (including all ages / histologies) in NHL pts. Despite this, there is a lack of data defining the specific incidence and fracture risk in older DLBCL pts post R-CHOP. We aimed to better define this risk in this specific cohort. Methods Data on consecutive DLBCL pts ≥70 years (y) treated with R-CHOP were retrospectively collected across 7 UK centres (2009-2019). Follow up was censored in 07/2019. All pts had untreated, de novo DLBCL or untreated transformed (to DLBCL) indolent B cell NHL. PTLD, HIV and pre-treated NHL pts were excluded. All pts received 1-9 cycles of full or attenuated R-CHOP with curative intent. Pts were excluded if they had progressive disease (PD) or died < 6 months (m) of cycle 1 R-CHOP (RCHOP1). A detailed anonymised database included ECOG performance status (PS), body mass index (BMI), history of osteoporosis / osteopenia, documented steroid pre-phase, vitamin D supplementation, calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels, and sites of bone DLBCL involvement. Fractures at diagnosis (DLBCL-related/unrelated) and pre diagnosis were collected. Fractures (including bone site) occurring during 18m from RCHOP1 were identified from radiology records. Pts were followed for a minimum of 6m and censored at 18m from RCHOP1, or at their last follow up if < 18m or at PD or death if between 6-18m. Baseline pt characteristics were descriptive. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan Meier methods and Cox regression with comparisons between categories using the log-rank test. Time to event analyses were measured from RCHOP1 until fracture event. Primary end point was 18m cumulative fracture incidence censoring pts at death or relapse. Univariable and multivariable analyses (UVA; MVA) of potential influencing RFs for fracture was assessed by Cox regression (Final stepwise model; p=0.1 for inclusion). Results Of 589 pts identified, 92 pts had PD or died prior to 6m and were excluded. 20 pts were excluded due to short follow up. Across 477 pts, the median age was 77 (range 70-93) y. 66% had an ECOG PS 0-1. The median cycles given was 6 (range 1-9). 27.3% received pre-phase steroids. The median BMI was 25.5 (range 14.2-48.1). 8.1% had a fracture prior to DLBCL, and 9.1% had a history of osteopenia or osteoporosis. 5.7% were current smokers, 3% had rheumatoid arthritis, 13.5% had type (T) 2 diabetes (DM), and 4.5% had a history of excess alcohol. At baseline, 25.2% had PET or CT-assessed cortical bone involvement. Overall, there were 52 fractures, including 50 within 18m follow up. Cumulative fracture incidence was 6.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4 - 8.9) at 6m, 9.5% (95% CI 7.1 - 12.6) at 12m and 11.5% (95% CI 8.8 - 14.9) at 18m (Fig A). 6 pts had multiple fracture sites (2; n=5, 3; n=1). 32 (62%) had vertebral fracture(s). Thoracic (34% 20/59) and lumbar vertebral (27% 16/59) were dominant sites (Fig C). 7/52 fractures were at the site of DLBCL involvement, 17/52 were at a different site from initial bone DLBCL involvement, 27/52 were in pts without bone involvement and 1/52 was unknown. Univariable RFs included female sex (hazard ratio (HR) 1.89 (95% CI 1.05 - 3.28)), known osteopenia or osteoporosis (HR 2.64 (95% CI 1.32 - 5.29)), DLBCL-related fracture at diagnosis (HR 4.05 (95% CI 2.07 - 7.92) (Fig B). Initial bone involvement was only associated with an increased risk in pts with a DLBCL-related baseline fracture (95% CI HR 4.56 (2.27 - 9.17)) (Table 1). MVA showed that DLBCL-related baseline fracture (HR 4.32 (1.97 - 9.47)) was the only significant independent RF for fracture with low BMI (p=0.051) and smoking history (p=0.052) of borderline significance (Table 2). Conclusions This is the largest series to date to show there is a clinically relevant fracture risk in older DLBCL pts specifically receiving R-CHOP in early follow up. Our data have limitations inherent to a retrospective study including the potential for unknown confounders, missing data, and medical record misinterpretation. Prospective data is required to validate RFs identified which could enable targeting a high-risk population. An RCT is needed to determine the value of prophylactic intervention(s) in high risk pts. Figure Disclosures Gibb: Takeda: Research Funding. Collins:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria. Eyre:Janssen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: commercial research support; Roche: Honoraria.

The aim of this study was to determine whether antimalarial agents inhibit ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels and thereby contribute to the observed side-effects of these drugs. Mefloquine (10 - 100 microM), but not artenusate (100 microM), stimulated insulin release from pancreatic islets in vitro. Macroscopic K(ATP) currents were studied in inside-out patches excised from Xenopus oocytes expressing cloned K(ATP) channels. Mefloquine (IC(50) approximately 3 microM), quinine (IC(50) approximately 3 microM), and chloroquine inhibited the pancreatic beta-cell type of K(ATP) channel Kir6.2/SUR1. Artenusate (100 microM) was without effect. Mefloquine and quinine also blocked a truncated form of Kir6.2 (Kir6. 2DeltaC36) when expressed in the absence of SUR1. The extent of block was similar to that observed for Kir6.2/SUR1 currents. Our results suggest that inhibition of the beta-cell K(ATP) channel accounts for the ability of quinoline-based antimalarial drugs to stimulate insulin secretion, and thereby produce hypoglycaemia. The results also indicate that quinoline-based antimalarial agents inhibit K(ATP) channels by interaction with the Kir6.2 subunit. This subunit is common to beta-cell, neuronal, cardiac, skeletal muscle, and some smooth muscle K(ATP) channels suggesting that K(ATP) channel inhibition may contribute to the other side effects of these drugs, which include cardiac conduction abnormalities and neuropsychiatric disturbances.

Surgical remission rates for acromegaly vary and are dependent on the tumour morphology, biochemical definition of disease remission and surgical expertise. A previous report from the Manchester region in 1998 reported an overall surgical remission rate of 27% using accepted criteria for biochemical remission at the time. The establishment of the 2010 Consensus guidelines further tightens biochemical criteria for remission. This report aims to assess the impact of establishing a specialist pituitary surgery service in Manchester in 2005, with reduced surgeon numbers on the remission rates for acromegaly surgery.Patients with acromegaly undergoing first time endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery between 2005 and 2010 were studied. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. Review of a prospectively collected acromegaly surgery database was performed with documentation of pre- and postoperative biochemical tests [oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and IGF-1], as well as clinical, pathological and radiological data. Definition of disease remission was according to the 2010 Consensus criteria (GH nadir0·4 μg/l following an oGTT and normalized population matched IGF-1). There were 43 consecutive patients with acromegaly, with 13 (30%) microadenomas and 12 (28%) invasive adenomas. Overall, surgical remission was achieved in 29 (67%) patients. The remission rates were similar between micro (77%), macro (63%) and giant (67%) adenomas. There were nonsignificant trends towards higher remission rates for noninvasive tumours compared with invasive tumours (74%vs 50%) and for patients with a preoperative GH nadir10 μg/l (73%vs 54%) and IGF-1 standard deviation score15 (72%vs 54%). Remission rates for acromegaly surgery have improved following establishment of a specialist surgical service, with a reduction in surgeon numbers. Endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery remains an effective first-line treatment for achieving biochemical remission in acromegaly, despite the introduction of the more stringent 2010 consensus guidelines.