Nelson Oyesiku, MD, PhD, FACS
Specialties: pituitary tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery

Emory has long enjoyed an international reputation as a center of excellence in pituitary surgery, thanks initially to the contributions of George Tindall, MD (retired and professor emeritus) and now Nelson M. Oyesiku, MD, PhD, FACS. Emory maintains a tradition of excellence in developing novel approaches and making new discoveries.

The pituitary surgery center is a multidisciplinary clinical service with a team of specialists who are Board-certified in their specialties and are internationally recognized for their expertise. It provides state-of-the-art diagnostic expertise in all aspects of endocrinology and neuroradiology, and comprehensive therapy of pituitary and hypothalamic disorders with expertise in neurosurgery, radiation therapy, and medical therapy.

Neurosurgeon Nelson Oyesiku, M.D., Ph.D. works with physicians from the endocrinology section, Priya Dayamani, MD, Sol Jacobs, MD, Larry Phillips, MD, Sumathi Srivatsa, MD, who collaborate in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with pituitary tumors.

All types of pituitary disorders are treated, including non-functional tumors and secretory tumors responsible for Cushing's disease or acromegaly, and hyperprolactinemia. Dr. Oyesiku's expertise includes the use of intraoperative ultrasound for localizing microadenomas in Cushing's disease, the endoscopic resection of pituitary tumors. In conjunction with Ian Crocker, M.D. of the radiation therapy department, Dr. Oyesiku also offers stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with pituitary lesions.

Dr. Oyesiku's laboratory is a leading center for research in the molecular biology of pituitary tumors, the first to discover that the folate receptor was a unique molecular marker for clinically non-functional pituitary tumors. Dr. Oyesiku is the principal investigator on an NIH-sponsored study, Molecular Targeting and Imaging of Pituitary Adenomas, the aim of which is to develop new therapy and imaging for pituitary tumors based on a key discovery from analysis of human pituitary adenomas. We have discovered a new molecular marker - the folate receptor (1). This marker allows us to image pituitary tumors in vivo using the vitamin folic acid coupled to technetium-99 and SPECT imaging so that we can identify patients that have folate receptors on their tumors (2). This allows selection of tumors that may be treatable by targeted therapy in the very near future. We are already testing candidate compounds that show promise in vitro and in vivo. Similar discoveries and applications of receptor biology led to new drugs for the treatment of prolactin-secreting tumors (bromocriptine, carbegoline) and growth-hormone secreting tumors (somatostatin, pegvisomant) with less need for surgery. The project is funded by a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Patients with recently diagnosed pituitary tumors over 18years and are not pregnant are eligible, may call or for more information on this research study.

Nelson M Oyesiku, MD, PhD, FACS (Principal Investigator)
Professor & Vice-Chairman, Neurosurgery
Emory University School of Medicine
Dept. of Neurosurgery
1365-B Clifton Rd, NE Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-778-5770
Fax: 404-778-4472
Admin Asst: 404-778-5969
Email: noyesik@emory.edu


REFERENCES
1. Evans, C-O, Reddy, P, Brat D.J., O'Neill E.B., Branch B., Stevens, V.L., Oyesiku, N.M. Differential Expression of Folate Receptor in Pituitary Adenomas, Cancer Research 63:4218-4224, 2003
2. Oyesiku, N.M., Halkar R. K., Galt J. R., Faraj B. A., Evans C.O. SPECT/CT of FolateScan ( Tc-99m EC20) in pituitary tumors: A novel imaging tracer and Technique. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol 45 (5 S) 368P 2004