Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met in human pituitary adenomas.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met have been known as key determinants of growth and angiogenesis in some brain tumors like gliomas, meningiomas, and schwannomas. But little is known about their expression in pituitary adenomas. In this study, the expression of HGF and c-Met in pituitary adenomas of different histology types was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and correlative analysis of their expression with microvessel density (MVD), Ki-67 expression, and other clinicopathologic factors was made. The results showed that the expression of HGF and c-Met exists in 98% (64 of 65) and 92% (60 of 65) pituitary adenomas, respectively, and co-expression of them existed in 91% (59 of 65) adenomas. HGF had significant correlation with MVD (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = .31, P = .01) and Ki-67 (r = .32, P = .01). c-Met had significant correlation with MVD (r = .30, P = .02) and Ki-67 (r = .38, P = .00). HGF and c-Met expression had no significant correlation with age or extrasellar extension. There were no significant differences in HGF and c-Met expression between pituitary adenomas of different histology types. The results indicate that HGF and c-Met are widely expressed in pituitary adenomas, and their expression correlates with MVD and Ki-67 expression.
Hou
Xian-Zeng
XZ
Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, PR China.
Liu
Wei
W
Fan
Hai-Tao
HT
Liu
Bin
B
Pang
Bo
B
Xin
Tao
T
Xu
Shang-Chen
SC
Pang
Qi
Q
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met