Prospective Comprehensive Molecular Analysis of Endocrine Neoplasms

June 5, 2026 updated by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Background:

  • Endocrine neoplasms (tumors) are among the fastest growing tumors in incidence in the United States. Furthermore, it is often difficult to distinguish between benign or malignant tumors in cancers of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland, and pancreas. More research is needed to improve detection and treatment options for patients who develop these kinds of cancer.
  • Researchers are interested in studying the molecular changes that are involved in endocrine cancer development and growth. To collect a sample of tumor specimens and healthy tissue for further study, researchers are specifically looking for samples from participants who are scheduled for surgery or biopsy on endocrine tumors.

Objectives:

- To collect samples of precancerous, cancerous, and healthy tissue from individuals who are scheduled for surgery or biopsy of endocrine system tumors.

Eligibility:

- Individuals who have a tumor in or around their thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland, pancreas, or any neuroendocrine tissue, and are scheduled for surgery at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Design:

  • Participants in this study will provide blood and urine samples prior to surgery.
  • During the surgery or biopsy, pieces of the tumor or precancerous growth and pieces of normal tissue near to the tumor will be removed for ongoing and future research. The rest of the tumor or growth will be sent for analysis.
  • After surgery, participants will receive routine care until discharge, and doctors will discuss possible treatment options. If there is an appropriate NIH protocol, participants may choose to be treated at the NIH.
  • After discharge, participants will return to the clinic for a routine postoperative check about 6 weeks following the operation, and then may be followed yearly at the Clinical Center or by phone.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Background:

Endocrine neoplasms are among the fastest growing tumors in incidence in the United States. Between 1995 and 2005, the incidence of thyroid carcinoma has increased 98 percent.

Tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland and gastrointestinal-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are among some of the most difficult tumors to clinically and histopathological distinguish as benign or malignant.

Moreover, endocrine neoplasms provide an extremely important model for studying the important molecular changes that lead to carcinogenesis because of their diverse clinical behavior, even when having the same TNM stage and histologic features.

The Surgical Oncology Program (formerly known as Endocrine Oncology Branch), NCI has a focus on studying the molecular changes that are involved in endocrine cancer initiation and progression. In addition, this section has primary responsibility for providing endocrine surgery consultative services to the NIH. As such, we are uniquely positioned to acquire and perform important studies to help identify diagnostic and predictive markers as well as therapeutic targets that may have significant clinical ramifications.

Objectives:

To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study. This objective will drive the statistical endpoints of the study.

Eligibility:

Participants with radiographic evidence of, biochemical evidence of, or histologically/cytologically proven, endocrine neoplasms, including lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. Or participants with a described pre or potentially malignant condition that requires surgery or biopsy as a part of the standard of care treatment and/or follow up.

Participants must have an ECOG performance score of 0-2.

Participants must have physical examination parameters within acceptable limits by standard of practice guidelines prior to biopsy or surgery.

Design:

A tissue acquisition trial in which tissues will be obtained at the time of surgical operation for the removal of neoplasms of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, paragangliomas and/or extra adrenal nests of neuroendocrine tissue, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

At the time of surgical operation, blood samples will be obtained from the operative field during the removal of neoplasms of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, paragangliomas and/or extra adrenal neuroendocrine tissue and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

No investigational therapy will be given.

It is anticipated that 2,300 participants will be followed on this study, however, to account for screening up to 2,415 participants may be enrolled.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

2415

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

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Recruiting
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

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

4 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Primary clinical@@@

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Participants who have an endocrine neoplasm based on radiographic and biochemical testing, or histologically/cytologically proven lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas, gastrointestinal

track and pancreas or participants with a described pre or potentially malignant condition that requires surgery or biopsy as a part of the standard of care treatment and/or follow up.

  • Participants referred to the Endocrine Consult Service on other protocols for surgical evaluation of endocrine disorders based on radiographic and biochemical testing, or histologically/cytologically proven lesions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, extra-adrenal endocrine nests, paragangliomas, neuroblastomas and pancreas.
  • Participants must have an ECOG performance score of 0-2.
  • Participants must have physical examination parameters within acceptable limits by standard of practice guidelines prior to biopsy or surgery.
  • Participants must be planning to undergo surgery or biopsy as part of their treatment plan. Note: Participants will not be enrolled exclusively for the procurement of tissue samples.
  • Age >= 4 years of age.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

None.

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
1/ Cohort 1
Participants with endocrine neoplasm or pre or potentially malignant condition of the endocrine system, scheduled to have surgery or biopsy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study.
Time Frame: 10 years
To develop a genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and proteomic profile of endocrine neoplasm that will allow us to distinguish benign from malignant tumor for each of the endocrine histologies under study.
10 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To utilize the tissue obtained from these endocrine neoplasms for studies of gene expression, epigenetic (methylation) changes, and metabolite and protein expression.
Time Frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy
Obtained endocrine neoplasm tissue will be used for studies of gene expression, epigenetic (methylation) changes, and metabolite and protein expression.
at the time of procedure or biopsy
To obtain, when accessible, normal endocrine and other adjacent tissue for comparison with the neoplastic tissue including the comparison of genomic profiling data to determine the best approach for normalizing expression data.
Time Frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy
When accessible, normal endocrine and other adjacent tissue will be obtained for comparison with the neoplastic tissue for genomic profiling to determine the best approach for normalizing expression data.
at the time of procedure or biopsy
To collect tissues from endocrine neoplasms arising in the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, extra-adrenal neuroendocrine nests, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors for future analysis and correlation with clinical outcome.
Time Frame: at the time of procedure or biopsy
Obtained endocrine neoplasm tissue in the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, extra-adrenal neuroendocrine nests, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors will be collected for future analysis and correlation with patient clinical outcome.
at the time of procedure or biopsy

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Naris Nilubol, M.D., National Cancer Institute (NCI)

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)

October 7, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 30, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 30, 2009

First Posted (Estimated)

November 2, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 090242
  • 09-C-0242

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All IPD recorded in the medical record will be shared with intramural investigators upon request. @@@@@@In addition, all large scale genomic sequencing data will be shared with subscribers to dbGaP.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Clinical data available during the study and indefinitely.@@@@@@Genomic data are available once genomic data are uploaded per protocol GDS plan for as long as database is active.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Clinical data will be made available via subscription to BTRIS and with the permission of the study PI. @@@@@@Genomic data are made available via dbGaP through requests to the data custodians.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

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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