The first ever round of research grants to projects looking for a new cure for ACC have been awarded this year. Our ACC community was instrumental in providing responses to surveys in support of several of the researchers who applied, for which we are truly grateful. Here are the successful applicants:
Recipient 1: A 3-way deep investigation of DLK1 as a key modulator and target of ACC. Researchers in London, Germany, and Italy are working together to develop a new treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare and aggressive cancer of the adrenal glands. They are focusing on a protein called DLK1, which is normally switched off after birth but becomes highly active again in ACC. The team is testing a new medicine called a monoclonal antibody that can specifically target DLK1 on cancer cells, helping to destroy them while sparing healthy tissue. This international project also involves patient groups to ensure the research stays focused on improving outcomes for people living with ACC. (Leonardo Guasti · Barbara Altieri · Michaela Luconi · James Pittaway (Queen Mary University of London · University of Würzburg · University of Florence)
Recipient 2: The ADIUVO-2 Clinical Trial: Improving Treatment for High-Risk ACC
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare cancer of the adrenal glands. While some patients do well after surgery, those with high-risk disease face a much greater chance of their cancer returning. The only approved drug, mitotane, can take several months to become effective and often has limited impact. The ADIUVO-2 international trial is testing whether adding chemotherapy in the first few months after surgery—alongside mitotane—improves outcomes for these high-risk patients. The study is also collecting blood, tissue, and scan data to help doctors detect recurrences earlier and tailor treatments more precisely in the future. With 54 patients already enrolled and support from several European countries, ADIUVO-2 is making important progress, but additional funding is needed to complete this vital research and pave the way for the next generation of trials. (Joakim Crona · Martin Fassnacht · Mouhammed Amir Habra · Rossella Libé · Massimo Terzolo · Alfredo Berruti (Uppsala University Hospital · University Hospital of Würzburg · University of Texas · Cochin Hospital · University of Turin · University of Brescia)