Markers of function and proliferation in non-invasive and invasive bi- and plurihormonal adenomas of patients with acromegaly: an immunohistochemical study.
Twenty-seven plurihormonal and 21 growth hormone- prolactin- (GH- PRL-) mixed cell adenomas obtained from patients with acromegaly undergoing transnasal-transsphenoidal surgery were investigated immunohistochemically for expression of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Transforming Growth Factor alpha (TGF alpha), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Estrogen Receptor-Related Protein (ERRP), Multidrug Resistance Marker (MDRM), Protein Kinase C (PKC), Gs alpha,. Cathepsin D and p53. Five plurihormonal adenomas grew invasively. The panel of markers used in this study represents a selection of functional and proliferative markers thought to be associated with the function and development of pituitary adenomas. Our results imply that the growth factors (EGF, TGF alpha, IGF-1), the cell signalling protein Gs alpha and the MDRM are expressed by both types of pituitary adenomas in a similar pattern. Non-invasive GH-PRL-mixed cell adenomas showed an increased expression of IGF-1, TGF alpha and MDRM compared to non-invasive plurihormonal adenomas. No factor was found which would reliably distinguish between invasive and non-invasive adenomas. We failed to confirm the findings of others that p53 and cathepsin D might be indicators of tumor aggressiveness. A participation of ERRP and PKC in the development of bi- and plurihormonal adenomas with acromegaly appears unlikely, as the immunostains were all negative.
Müller
W
W
Institute of Pathology, Marien Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
Saeger
W
W
Wellhausen
L
L
Derwahl
K M
KM
Hamacher
C
C
Lüdecke
D K
DK
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D002403:Cathepsins; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs