title: Expression of p53, Ki-67 and c-erb B2 in growth hormone-and/or prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas.
abstract: The subcellular events implicated on the formation and behavior of pituitary adenomas are not fully understood. In this study we investigated the presence of p53, Ki-67 and c-erb B2 in 38 pituitary adenomas with immunohistochemical positivity for GH and prolactin (n=26; 68.4%), for prolactin (n=9; 23.7%) and for GH (n=3. 7.8%). The analyses revealed the following results: 24 (63.2%) tumors expressed variable positivity for c-erb B2, 11 (28.9%) expressed p53 positivity and 11 (28.9%) tumors were variably positive for Ki-67. Our results demonstrated a high percentage of GH/prolactin-, prolactin- and GH-secreting tumors with immunohistochemical positivity for c-erb B2. Once this membrane receptor is related to growth factors EGF and TGFalpha and both have a definite effect on tumor growth, our data suggest a possible role for c-erb B2 on the evolution of these tumors.
authors.affiliation: Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil. carlbotelho@zipmail.com.br
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique A
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: Albino Verçosa de
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Paulo Andrade de
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Casulari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53