Study of major genetic factors involved in pituitary tumorigenesis and their impact on clinical and biological characteristics of sporadic somatotropinomas and non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Author(s):Show less -

R.K. Foltran ^[1] ; P.V.G.H. Amorim ^[1] ; F.H. Duarte ^{[2, 3]} ; I.P.P. Grande ^[1] ; A.C.T.B. Freire ^[2] ; F.P. Frassetto ^[4] ; J.B. Dettoni ^[4] ; V.A. Alves ^[4] ; I. Castro ^[5] ; E.B. Trarbach ^{[1, 2]} ; M.D. Bronstein ; R.S. Jallad ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Lab Endocrinol Celular & Mol, LIM25, Disciplina End, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Unidade Neuroendocrinol, Disciplina Endocrinol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] AC Camargo Ctr, Serv Endocrinol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Div Anat Patol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Div Med Mol, Dept Med, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 51, n. 9 2018-06-25.

Abstract

Genetic and functional aberrations of guanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha stimulating (GNAS), aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP), and pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) are among the most prominent events in pituitary tumorigenesis. A cohort of Brazilian patients with somatotropinomas (n=41) and non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA, n=21) from a single tertiary-referral center were evaluated for GNAS and AIP mutations and gene expression of AIP and PTTG. Results were compared to the clinical and biological (Ki67 and p53 expression) characteristics of tumors and their response to therapy, if applicable. Genetic analysis revealed that 27% of somatotropinomas and 4.8% of NFPA harbored GNAS mutations (P=0.05). However, no differences were observed in clinical characteristics, tumor extension, response to somatostatin analog therapy, hormonal/surgical remission rates, Ki67 index, and p53 expression between mutated and non-mutated somatotropinomas patients. PTTG overexpression (RQ mean=10.6, min=4.39, max=11.9) and AIP underexpression (RQ mean=0.56, min=0.46-max=0.92) were found in virtually all cases without a statistically significant relationship with clinical and biological tumor features. No patients exhibited somatic or germline pathogenic AIP mutations. In conclusion, mutations in GNAS and abnormal PTTG and AIP expression had no impact on tumor features and treatment outcomes in this cohort. Our data support some previous studies and point to the need for further investigations, probably involving epigenetic and transcriptome analysis, to improve our understanding of pituitary tumor behavior. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/10462-4 - Analysis of plasma and tissue expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in patients with pituitary adenomas and its correlation with invasive tumor behavior
• Grantee: Marcello Delano Bronstein
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants