title: Epidermal growth factor binding sites in human pituitary macroadenomas.
abstract: The number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding sites was determined by competitive binding assays in a series of 46 pituitary macroadenomas. A single concentration of 125I-EGF (1 nM) was used for all experiments. In four cases, a displacement curve was obtained by adding increasing concentrations of cold EGF, and Scatchard analysis showed the presence of two classes of EGF binding sites, with Kd1 = 0.62 +/- 0.23 nM and Kd2 = 53.8 +/- 8.2 nM for the high- and low-affinity binding sites respectively. The distribution of EGF binding sites was studied in 42 cases by a single-point assay, in the presence and in the absence of a 100-fold cold EGF excess. A non-parametric distribution of EGF binding sites was observed (median 10.2 fmol/mg membrane protein, range 0.0-332.0). EGF-receptor positivity, defined as EGF binding > or = 10.0 fmol/mg protein, was observed in 23 samples (54.8%), especially in prolactinomas (76.5%, P < 0.05 vs other tumors taken together) and in gonadotrope adenomas (62.5%). EGF binding was higher in invasive than in non-invasive adenomas (median: 12.8 vs 0.0 fmol/mg membrane protein, P = 0.047), and especially in adenomas invading the sphenoid sinus (median 26.7 fmol/mg membrane protein, P = 0.008 vs other adenomas). EGF binding also tended to increase with the grade of supra/extrasellar extension according to Wilson (P = 0.15). Sex steroid receptors (SSRs) were simultaneously determined in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions of 31 pituitary adenomas. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay and androgen receptors by a competitive binding assay with [3H]methyltrienolone. No correlation could be found between EGF binding and either the gender and gonadal status of the patients, or the expression of SSRs by the adenomas. We conclude that the EGF family of growth factors may play a role in the evolution of a significant subset of human pituitary adenomas, especially in their invasiveness, and that a high EGF binding capacity may represent an additional marker of aggressiveness for these tumors. Sex steroids do not appear to have a significant role in the regulation of EGF binding in vivo in these tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jaffrain-Rea
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrangeli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lubrano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minniti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamburrano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulino
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor