An Investigation of Pituitary Tumors and Related Hypothalmic Disorders

May 29, 2026 updated by: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

A Clinical and Genetic Investigation of Pituitary and Hypothalamic Tumors and Related Disorders

There is a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland in childhood; some of these tumors (eg craniopharyngioma) are included among the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; their possible association with other developmental defects or inheritance pattern(s) has not been investigated. The present study serves as a (i) screening/training, and, (ii) a research protocol.

As a screening and training study, this protocol allows our Institute to admit children with tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit to the pediatric endocrine clinics and wards of the NIH Clinical Center for the purposes of

(i) training our fellows and students in the identification of genetic defects associated with pituitary tumor formation, and

(ii) teaching our fellows and students the recognition, management and complications of pituitary tumors

As a research study, this protocol aims at

(i) developing new clinical studies for the recognition and therapy of pituitary tumors; as an example, two new studies have emerged within the context of this protocol: (a) investigation of a new research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tool and its usefulness in the identification of pituitary tumors, and (b) investigation of the psychological effects of cortisol secretion in pediatric patients with Cushing disease. Continuation of this protocol will eventually lead to new, separate protocols that will address all aspects of diagnosis of pituitary tumors and their therapy in childhood.

(ii) Identifying the genetic components of pituitary oncogenesis; those will be investigated by (a) studying the inheritance pattern of pituitary tumors in childhood and their possible association with other conditions in the families of the patients, and (ii) collecting tumor tissues and examining their molecular genetics. As with the clinical studies, the present protocol may help generate ideas for future studies on the treatment and clinical follow up of pediatric patients with tumors of the pituitary gland and, thus, lead to the development of better therapeutic regimens for these neoplasms.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Study Description:<TAB>

This protocol aims to evaluate subjects with tumors of the hypothalamic pituitary unit to: identify genetic components of pituitary and hypothalamic oncogenesis, to develop new clinical studies for the recognition and therapy of pituitary tumors, and to investigate the psychological effects of cortisol secretion.

Objectives:<TAB>

Primary Objective:

To collect peripheral blood samples and tumor tissues and examine the molecular genetics of the specimens, in an effort to elucidate developmental pathways leading to pituitary gland oncogenesis and/or other defects.

Secondary Objectives:

To serve as a screening protocol for future studies on the treatment and clinical follow up of our patients with pituitary tumors; it is our hope that the protocol will continue to be a vehicle for the development of more related clinical studies.

To collect biospecimens.

To evaluate the cognitive, psychological, and patient-reported health status of mental and social well-being and symptoms of hypercortisolemia and adrenal insufficiency (AI) associated with recovery from Cushing syndrome (CS) in children with this disease.

Endpoints:

<TAB>

Primary Endpoint:

Molecular genetic testing

Secondary Endpoints:

Pre- and/or post- treatment assessment of research variables related to pituitary/hypothalamic tumors and comorbidities.

Cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and patient-reported outcomes

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

2000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Deborah P Merke, M.D.
  • Phone Number: (301) 496-0718
  • Email: dmerke@nih.gov

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Recruiting
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
        • Contact:
          • For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR)
          • Phone Number: TTY dial 711 800-411-1222
          • Email: ccopr@nih.gov

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

3 years to 70 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects with known or suspected pituitary or hypothalamic tumors or related disorders. Family members (adult and pediatric; affected and unaffected) may be enrolled in the DNA linkage analysis part of this protocol.

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.

  2. Male or female with:

    1. Evidence for the existence of a tumor of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit or related disorder, as indicated by previously obtained imaging studies or biochemical investigation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal function (aged 2 years to 70 years)

      or

    2. Family members (any age) of patients with a family history of tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit or related disorders as part of the linkage part of the study, or
    3. Members (any age) of a kindred suspected of having an inherited form of neoplasia of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit or related disorder, as evidenced by results of a patient enrolled in this protocol, as part of the linkage part of the study
  3. Ability of the subject or LAR to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  1. Pregnancy: Pregnancy will be evaluated only in participants of reproductive age (from 10 years old until 60 years of age unless menopause has already occurred per clinical report of the participant).

    For participants enrolled as external participants or under the Linkage study (where research activities include no more than blood draws), any female who could possibly become pregnant will be screened using clinical criteria (history, with pregnancy testing only if indicated) for exclusion and this information will be documented in the consent process note in EMR. If a participant has initially been registered as external location and then presents on-site, then pregnancy test will be performed if within the reproductive age group.

  2. Patients with any medical, physical, psychiatric, or social condition, which, in the opinion of the investigators, would make participation in this protocol not in their best interest, will be excluded from the study.
  3. Patients who are critically ill, unstable, or with severe organ failure that may affect/limit the endocrine evaluation and place unsustainable demands on CC or NICHD resources may be excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Patients with pituitary tumors or hypothalmic defects
Procedure: Tissue specimen collection
Tissue specimen collection
Procedure: MRI
MRI scan

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Molecular genetic testing, whole exome sequencing
Time Frame: ongoing
To collect peripheral blood samples and tumor tissues and examine the molecular genetics of the specimens, in an effort to elucidate developmental pathways leading to pituitary gland oncogenesis and/or other defects.
ongoing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To investigate the usefulness of a new MRI of the pituitary gland
Time Frame: completed
Comparison of MRI techniques to identify micro adenomas
completed
To evaluate the cognitive, psychological, and patient-reported health status of mental and social well-being and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency associated with Cushing syndrome in children with this disease.
Time Frame: ongoing
Descriptive study of cognitive, psychological, and patient-reported health status of mental and social well-being associated with Cushing and after treatment
ongoing
To identify the clinical and genetic features of pituitary tumors by investigating their inheritance pattern and possible association with other conditions in the families of the patients.
Time Frame: ongoing
Genetic studies of pituitary and hypothalamic tumors or related disorders
ongoing
To collect peripheral blood samples and tumor tissues and examine the molecular genetics of the specimens, in an effort to elucidate developmental pathways leading to pituitary gland oncogenesis and/or other defects
Time Frame: ongoing
Genetic studies of pituitary and hypothalamic tumors or related disorders
ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Deborah P Merke, M.D., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 21, 1997

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 1999

First Posted (Estimated)

November 4, 1999

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 29, 2026

Last Verified

May 13, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 970076
  • 97-CH-0076

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified Samples/data, including genomic data, will be shared with NIH & non-NIH collaborators after an MTA is obtained. If coded data shared, the key code will not be shared with collaborators & stay at NIH. If Data & samples shared with AIs and IC with an FWA/operating under the DOH and reported at the time of CR. Sharing with AIs without an FWA/operating under the DoH will be submitted for prospective IRB approval. Submissions to NIH-sponsored or supported databases and repositories will be reported at the time of CR. Submission to non-NIH sponsored or supported databases & repositories will be submitted for prospective IRB approval.@@@@@@Required approvals from the collaborating institution will be obtained and materials will be shipped in accordance with NIH and federal regulations. This study will comply with the NIH GDS Policy, which applies to all NIH-funded research that generates large-scale human or non-human GD, as well as the use of these data for subsequent research.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

AIs in the NIH intramural program may participate with NIH/ non-NIH collaborators under which de-identified human materials are transferred from the intramural program to another site for correlative studies that are part of the approved protocol. In this case, the protocol clearly documents the tests conducted under the correlative studies& each institution participating in the clinical study is bound by the terms of this Protocol& their obligations under the statutes & regulations. @@@@@@This study will comply with the NIH DSP &Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded CT Information & Registration & Results Information Submission rule. As such, this trial will be registered at CT.gov,& results information from this trial will be submitted to CT.gov. In addition, every attempt will be made to publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Data from this study may be requested from other researchers 3 years after the completion of the primary endpoint by contacting PI or NICHD-DASH.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

This study will comply with the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information and the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Information Submission rule. As such, this trial will be registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, and results information from this trial will be submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov. In addition, every attempt will be made to publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Data from this study may be requested from other researchers 3 years after the completion of the primary endpoint by contacting PI or NICHD-DASH.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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