open access

Vol 65, No 6 (2014)
Original paper
Submitted: 2014-01-28
Accepted: 2014-02-07
Published online: 2014-12-31
Get Citation

Expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptors in pituitary adenomas — a marker of tumour aggressiveness?

Marek Pawlikowski, Maciej Radek, Maria Jaranowska, Jolanta Kunert-Radek, Jacek Swietoslawski, Katarzyna Winczyk
DOI: 10.5603/EP.2014.0065
·
Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(6):469-471.

open access

Vol 65, No 6 (2014)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2014-01-28
Accepted: 2014-02-07
Published online: 2014-12-31

Abstract

Introduction: In our earlier study, we found that pituitary adenomas, like other human tumours, express ectopically follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR) in intratumoural blood vessels endothelia and/or tumoural cells. The aim of the present paper was to provide more detailed data on FSHR expression in different subtypes of pituitary adenomas and to evaluate its possible role as a prognostic and/ or predictive biomarker in these tumours.

Material and methods: Forty two pituitary adenomas, surgically removed, were immunostained with antibodies against the pituitary hormones, antigen Ki-67 and 1–190 fragment of FSHR.

Results: The positive FSHR immunostaining was found in blood vessels endothelia of 88% of adenomas and in tumoural cells of 40% adenomas. In tumoural cells, the incidence of at least moderate FSHR immunostaining is significantly higher in invasive tumours (68%) compared to non-invasive (12%) ones, and higher (albeit not statistically significantly) in invasive-proliferating adenomas (Ki-67 > 3%, grade 2b) compared to invasive but non-proliferating (Ki-67 < 3%, grade 2a) ones.

Conclusions: The present study confirms that pituitary adenomas ectopically express FSHR in intratumoural blood vessels endothelia and tumoural cells. Moreover, the expression in tumoural cells is prevalent in invasive and proliferating adenomas vs. non-invasive and non-proliferating tumours. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 469–471)

Abstract

Introduction: In our earlier study, we found that pituitary adenomas, like other human tumours, express ectopically follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR) in intratumoural blood vessels endothelia and/or tumoural cells. The aim of the present paper was to provide more detailed data on FSHR expression in different subtypes of pituitary adenomas and to evaluate its possible role as a prognostic and/ or predictive biomarker in these tumours.

Material and methods: Forty two pituitary adenomas, surgically removed, were immunostained with antibodies against the pituitary hormones, antigen Ki-67 and 1–190 fragment of FSHR.

Results: The positive FSHR immunostaining was found in blood vessels endothelia of 88% of adenomas and in tumoural cells of 40% adenomas. In tumoural cells, the incidence of at least moderate FSHR immunostaining is significantly higher in invasive tumours (68%) compared to non-invasive (12%) ones, and higher (albeit not statistically significantly) in invasive-proliferating adenomas (Ki-67 > 3%, grade 2b) compared to invasive but non-proliferating (Ki-67 < 3%, grade 2a) ones.

Conclusions: The present study confirms that pituitary adenomas ectopically express FSHR in intratumoural blood vessels endothelia and tumoural cells. Moreover, the expression in tumoural cells is prevalent in invasive and proliferating adenomas vs. non-invasive and non-proliferating tumours. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 469–471)

Get Citation

Keywords

follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR); pituitary adenoma; marker of aggressiveness

About this article
Title

Expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptors in pituitary adenomas — a marker of tumour aggressiveness?

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 65, No 6 (2014)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

469-471

Published online

2014-12-31

Page views

1481

Article views/downloads

1718

DOI

10.5603/EP.2014.0065

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(6):469-471.

Keywords

follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)
pituitary adenoma
marker of aggressiveness

Authors

Marek Pawlikowski
Maciej Radek
Maria Jaranowska
Jolanta Kunert-Radek
Jacek Swietoslawski
Katarzyna Winczyk

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

Via MedicaWydawcą jest  VM Media Group sp. z o.o., Grupa Via Medica, ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk

tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail:  viamedica@viamedica.pl