title: Galectin-3 expression in pituitary adenomas as a marker of aggressive behavior.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the role of galectin-3 (LGALS3) expression in predicting the recurrence and the progression potential of prolactin (PRL) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pituitary adenomas and its correlation with the RUNX1 and RUNX2 transcription factors involved in the regulation mechanism of LGALS3 expression. Clinical, neuroradiologic, and follow-up data from 92 pituitary adenomas, including 59 PRL cell adenomas and 33 ACTH-functioning pituitary adenomas, were collected. The LGALS3 expression was analyzed by both immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction, whereas RUNX1 and RUNX2 were analyzed by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction only. The data obtained indicated that invasive growth with suprasellar extension, Ki-67 labeling index, and LGALS3 immunohistochemical and/or LGALS3 messenger RNA levels are the most important histologic features for assessing a high risk of progression or recurrence of PRL- and ACTH-functioning pituitary adenomas. Multivariate Cox regression analysis assessed LGALS3 immunohistochemical positivity in at least 30% of neoplastic cells and/or LGALS3 messenger RNA positivity (P < .001) as strong predictive factors of recurrence/tumor progression followed by a Ki-67 labeling index greater than 3% (P = .019) in the 81 cases in which follow-up data were available. In addition, a significant correlation between LGALS3 and RUNX1 expression levels (P = .0435) was found. This retrospective immunohistochemical and molecular study demonstrated that LGALS3 expression appeared to be a predictive factor of the aggressive behavior of PRL- and ACTH-functioning pituitary adenomas, and its expression was correlated with RUNX1 expression levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Section of Anatomic Pathology "M. Malpighi," Bellaria Hospital, Bologna 40139, Italy; Department Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farnedi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sisto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faustini-Fustini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoli
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzatenta
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agati
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002648:Child; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037161:Galectins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001798:Blood Proteins; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human; C493728:RUNX1 protein, human; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: ACTH; Ct; FSH; GH; Galectin-3; HPF; IHC; LGALS3; LH; LI; MRI; PA; PRL; Pituitary adenoma; Prognosis; ROC; RUNX1; RUNX2; TSH; adrenocorticotropin; cycle threshold; follicle-stimulating hormone; galectin-3; growth hormone; high-power field; immunnohistochemistry; labeling index; luteinizing hormone; magnetic resonance imaging; pituitary adenoma; prolactin; qRT-PCR; quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction; receive operating characteristic; thyrotropin