title: [Application of adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor determination and ultrastructural observation of tumor cells in the subtyping of adrenocortical neoplasms].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the values of adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (ACTH-R) determination and ultrastructural observation of tumor cells in the subtyping of adrenocortical neoplasms (ANs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of ACTH-R in 87 AN tissues were determined with Polymer immunohistochemical staining, with 10 normal adrenal tissues as the controls. The ultrastructure of the tumor cells was observed using electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive expression rate of ACTH-R was (80.1 +/- 8.2)%, (53.2 +/- 10.3)%, (63.2 +/- 10.1)%, (83.3 +/- 6.5)%, and (70.1 +/- 7.3)% in the sub-CPA group, CPA group, APA group, NFA group, and NC group, respectively. ACTH-R expression was significantly higher in NFA and sub-CPA groups than in NC group (P = 0.001, P = 0.000), APA group (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), and CPA group (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), and was also significantly different between NC group and APA group (P = 0.039) and between APA group and CPA group (P = 0.037). However, no significant difference was found between NFA group and sub-CPA group (P = 0.325). As shown by the electron microscopy, ANs had some partially similar microscopic features, while different AN subtypes showed differences in the type and amount of secretory granules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACTH-R determination and ultrastructural observation of tumor cells may be helpful for subtyping ANs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Han-Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bing-Bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin