Exp Mol Med.  2001 Sep;33(3):111-116.

Clinical significance of molecular genetic changes in sporadic invasive pituitary adenomas

• Nam DH
• Song SY
• Park KS
• Kim MH
• Suh YL
• Lee JI
• Kim JS
• Hong SC
• Shin HJ
• Park K
• Eoh W
• Kim JH

Abstract

Several molecular and genetic changes have been found in pituitary adenomas. We looked for correlations between these changes and the degree of invasiveness of the tumors. The invasiveness of 11 pituitary adenomas was graded by Hardy classification. We examined the retinoblastoma gene (RB1.20 on chromosome 13q) and the region around the MEN1 locus (chromosome 11q13.1-5) for loss of heterozygosity. Also examined are p53 mutations using single strain conformation polymorphism, p53 protein overexpression using immuno cytochemistry, homozygous deletions of p15 and p16 by polymerase chain reaction, and cellular proliferative activity using MIB-1 antibody. Six tumors (54.5%) had an LOH at either RB1.20 or the MEN1 locus. LOHs were found more frequently in Grade 4 and stage E tumors (72% and 67%) than in Grade 3 and stage D tumors (25% and 40%). However, no mutation or overexpression of p53 was found. No homozygous deletions of p15 or p16 were identified. The cell proliferative index ranged from 0 to 3%. LOH at 11q13 and 13q may be valuable in predicting the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas.

Keyword

retinoblastoma; p53; multiple endocrine neoplasm type 1; invasive pituitary adenoma

MeSH Terms

Adenoma/*genetics/*pathology/physiopathology/radiography
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13
Female
*Genes, Retinoblastoma
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
Genes, p53
Human
Loss of Heterozygosity
Male
Middle Age
Mutation
Neoplasm Invasiveness
Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics
Pituitary Neoplasms/*genetics/*pathology/physiopathology/radiography
Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
Protein p16/genetics
Protein p53/genetics/metabolism