Research of the OHSU Pituitary Unit Faculty

SOM230 Therapy for Patients with Cushing's Disease

Patients with active Cushing's disease (Cushing's syndrome caused by an ACTH producing pituitary tumor) who have urine free cortisols more than 2x the upper limit of normal and are age 18 or greater will be eligible to be screened for this study. Qualifying patients will receive SOM230 (a new drug that effects all five somatostatin receptors) for a 16-day period to see if it effectively treats Cushing's disease. Urine free cortisols (as well as other tests) will be assessed before and after drug treatment. All expenses will be paid to the patients including a stipend for participating. Dr. Maria Fleseriu is the principal investigator at OHSU. Interested patients should call Chris at 503.494.6576

Growth Hormone and Testosterone Therapy for Panhypopituitary Women

Women who have lost all pituitary function age 18-55 will qualify. Growth Hormone (GH) will be given free of change for 24 months and testosterone in a female dose for 6 months. The growth hormone portion of the study is not placebo, but the testosterone part is. Patients will begin an appropriate dose of growth hormone regulated by an experienced pituitary physician. Part of the study is conducted at UCLA in Los Angeles, patients travel there twice. All expenses will be paid to the patients including a stipend for participating. Dr. David Cook is the principal investigator at OHSU. Interested patients call Elease at 503.494.1517

Safety and efficacy of pasireotide LAR vs. octreotide LAR in patients with active acromegaly

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of pasireotide LAR vs. octreotide LAR in the treatment of acromegaly. Men and women 18 years and older who have been diagnosed with active acromegaly and who are:

1. medical treatment naïve after first surgery or
2. de-novo patients who present with a visible adenoma on MRI and who refuse pituitary surgery or for whom pituitary surgery is not indicated.

An Open-Label Study of the Efficacy and Safety of CORLUX (Mifepristone) in the Treatment of the Signs and Symptoms of Endogenous Cushing's Syndrome

Cushing's syndrome is a relatively rare disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome may result from elevated endogenous or exogenous sources of cortisol. Endogenous Cushing's syndrome resulting from cortisol overproduction by the adrenal glands is the subject of this protocol. Patients with exogenous Cushing's syndrome, which develops as a side effect of chronic administration of high doses of glucocorticoids, are not eligible for enrollment in this study.

This will evaluate the safety and efficacy of mifepristone for treatment of the signs and symptoms of hypercortisolemia in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome from ACTH-dependent or adrenal disorders.

The study will enroll subjects for whom the investigator has determined that medical treatment of endogenous hypercortisolemia is needed. Medical treatment may be intended to treat the effects of persistent or recurrent hypercortisolemia after surgery and/or radiation for Cushing's syndrome, to bridge the period of time for radiation to become effective, or when surgery is not feasible.

More information available at OHSU Study Participation.