Peripheral blood osteopontin (OPN) and endostatin (END) levels were studied in 35 patients with adrenal cortex tumors and 10 patients with pheochromocytoma before unilateral adrenalectomy, as well as in 10 healthy subjects (controls). Thirty days after surgery, OPN and END were evaluated again in 16 patients with adrenal cortex tumors and 4 female patients with pheochromocytoma. Before surgery, OPN blood concentrations increased in the group of patients with adrenal cortex carcinomas as compared to controls (p < 0.001) and the group with Conn syndrome (p < 0.05); they did not change after surgery. Before adrenalectomy, OPN blood levels in pheochromocytoma patients were also lower than in Conn syndrome subjects (p < 0.05). After adrenalectomy, the normal concentrations of END decreased only in the group of patients with hormonally inactive cortical adenomas (p < 0.05). We were unable to demonstrate any relationships between removed tumor volumes and OPN or END blood levels.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms Adrenal Gland Neoplasms