Adrenocortical carcinoma or ACC (adrenal cancer) is an incredibly rare and routinely fatal disease.  ACC often displays asymptomatically, diagnosed only incidentally in the course of evaluating an unrelated problem.  While patients occasionally exhibit symptoms of adrenal hormone excess, such a presentation frequently looks like the common diseases of our time – diabetes, hypertension and weight gain.  As these diseases gain prevalence, the diagnosis of adrenal cancer is increasingly very difficult.  The purpose of this course is to provide physicians with the knowledge needed to recognize and treat adrenal cancer.  Attendees will acquire skills needed in the initial evaluation of the disease and management of the disease from the surgical, endocrinologic and oncologic perspectives.  A major goal of the course is to provide practitioners with an update in the clinical and basic research pertinent to ACC.

The course will begin with a discussion of current assessment and management strategies followed by updates in current therapeutic ACC trials and state-of-the-science sessions on the molecular biology of adrenal growth factors, stem cells and adrenal cancer.  Sessions on bioinformatics, molecular profiling and international database networks will follow.  Attendees will be provided with opportunities to ask questions throughout the sessions.  A patient-oriented session will allow patient participation in a Q&A style format with a panel of world-renowned physician-scientists in the ACC field to enhance their education and understanding of adrenal cancer.

UMHS Biomedical Science Research Building