title: Expression of the pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG1) in pheochromocytoma as a potential marker for distinguishing benign versus malignant tumors.
abstract: The Distinction between malignant and benign pheochromocytoma has always been a diagnostic challenge over the last decades. To date, the only reliable criterion is metastasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible expression of pituitary-tumor transforming gene (PTTG1) and retinoblastoma (Rb) in benign and malignant pheochromocytoma. Paraffin blocks of 44 and 11 patients diagnosed with benign and malignant pheochromocytoma were collected. Parameters such as sex, age, tumor size, necrosis, and histological features were compared between the benign and malignant groups as well as immunohistochemical labeling using specific antibodies. PTTG1 showed negative expression in all (44) benign and 9 out of 11 (81.8%) malignant tumors with only 2 out of 11 (18.2%) malignant tumors showed positive reactivity for PTTG1 (P: 0.037) with spindle cell histological pattern in both of them (P: 0.013). Although Rb expression in malignant tumors (81.8%) was slightly more than the benign ones (52.3%), no statistically significant correlation was observed (P: 0.087). These results suggest that PTTG1 immunostaining may play a key role in distinguishing between benign and malignant phaeochromocytoma. However, larger studies are necessary to confirm the outcomes of the present study.
authors: Department of Pathology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Amooshahi.md@g.mail.com.
authors: Mohamad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Haji Amousha
authors: Nastaran
authors: N
authors: Sabetkish
authors: School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Nastaran.sk@g.mail.com.
authors: Nastaran
authors: N
authors: Sabet Kish
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistic, Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. rheshmat@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Heshmat
authors: Department of Pathology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Afsaneh_rajabiani@yahoo.com.
authors: Afsaneh
authors: A
authors: Rajabiani
authors: Department of Pathology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hsaffar@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Hiva
authors: H
authors: Saffar
authors: Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. emrc@tums.ac.ir.
authors: Vahid
authors: V
authors: Haghpanah
authors: Department of Pathology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tavangar_md@yahoo.com.
authors: Seyed Mohammad
authors: SM
authors: Tavangar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D064249:Securin / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D064249:Securin; C578002:pituitary tumor-transforming protein 1, human