title: Hormone receptor expression in craniopharyngiomas: a clinicopathological correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extensive neurosurgical resection of craniopharyngiomas often requires lifetime hormonal substitution.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effect of the hormone receptor expression of insulinlike growth factor-1, growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor, growth hormone, progesterone, estrogen (ER-1, ER-beta), and leptins (Ra6.4, Ra12.1, Rb) on tumor recurrence, size, and proliferation using clinical, histopathological, and molecular genetic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  cDNA expression analysis was obtained in a cohort of 20 patients suffering from a craniopharyngioma to systematically determine the expression of above-mentioned receptors. In addition, 51 tumor samples were available to immunohistochemically investigate the extent and distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors. In 18 tumor specimens, both experimental paradigms could be performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All hormone receptors under study, including leptins, were detectable in craniopharyngiomas with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction but did not reach significance regarding the tested parameters. However, a correlation was observed between tumor size and cell proliferation indexes, as well as with cDNA expression levels of ER-1 and growth hormone receptors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present preliminary data point to a correlation between estrogen and growth hormone receptor expression and proliferation indexes with tumor size in craniopharyngiomas. Because of the small cohort of tumors, these data require expansion and validation. This is the first report about leptin expression in this tumor entity. These findings should prompt careful consideration of hormonal replacement therapy regimens in patients with tumor remnants and evidence of respective receptor expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. bernd.m.hofmann@gmx.de
authors.forename: Bernd M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoelsken
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fahlbusch
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blümcke
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buslei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006728:Hormones; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear