[Detection of serum epidermal growth factor receptor in the diagnosis of proliferation of pituitary adenomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between preoperative serum epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) level and proliferation of pituitary adenoma.


METHODS
ELISA was used to determine the levels of EGF-R in preoperative serum from 137 patients with pituitary diseases: 5 cases of pituitary Rathke's pouch, 13 cases of pituitary hyperplasia, and 119 cases of pituitary adenomas including 17 cases of microadenoma, 64 cases of macroadenoma, and 38 cases of giant adenoma. Twenty-eight healthy blood donors were used as controls.


RESULTS
The level of serum EGF-R was (194 +/- 38) fmol/L in patients with pituitary hyperplasia, and was (219 +/- 37) fmol/L in patients with pituitary microadenoma, 322 +/- 66 fmol/L in patients with pituitary macroadenoma and (428 +/- 62) fmol/L in patients with pituitary giant adenoma. The levels of serum EGF-R in patients with different kinds of pituitary hyperplasia and pituitary adenoma were significantly higher than the level in patients with pituitary Rathke's pouch (152 +/- 17) fmol/L, all P < 0.0001, and were significantly higher than that in healthy control group (159 +/- 41) fmol/L, all P < 0.05. The serum level of EGF-R was positively correlated to the size of pituitary adenoma (r = 0.998). Furthermore, significant difference in the level of serum EGF-R was observed among patients with different kinds of pituitary adenoma (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
EGF-R level in preoperative serum of patients with pituitary adenoma reflexes the proliferative status of pituitary adenoma and helps differentiate pituitary adenoma from pituitary Rathke's pouch. It is suggested that serum EGF-R be used as a referable marker of proliferative status of pituitary adenoma.
Laboratory of Neurosurgery Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Aacademy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China.
Yanguo
Y
Kong
Zuyuan
Z
Ren
Changbao
C
Su
Renzhi
R
Wang
D000328:Adult; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
D066246:ErbB Receptors