In:
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, The Endocrine Society, Vol. 105, No. 8 ( 2020-08-01), p. 2587-2594
Abstract:
Gonadotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) can express follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) or be hormone negative, but they rarely secrete hormones. During tumor development, epithelial cells develop a mesenchymal phenotype. This process is characterized by decreased membranous E-cadherin and translocation of E-cadherin to the nucleus. Estrogen receptors (ERs) regulate both E-cadherin and FSH expression and secretion. Whether the hormone status of patients with gonadotroph PitNETs is regulated by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ERs is unknown. Objectives To study the effect of EMT on hormone expression in gonadotroph nonfunctioning (NF)-PitNETs. Design Molecular and clinical analyses of 105 gonadotroph PitNETs. Immunohistochemical studies and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed for FSH, LH, E-cadherin, and ERα. Further analyses included blood samples, clinical data, and radiological images. Setting All patients were operated on in the same tertiary referral center. Results NF-PitNET with high FSH expression had decreased immunohistochemical staining for membranous E-cadherin (P & lt; .0001) and increased staining for nuclear E-cadherin (P & lt; .0001). Furthermore, high FSH expression was associated with increased ERα staining (P = .0002) and ERα mRNA (P = .0039). Circulating levels of plasma-FSH (P-FSH) correlated with FSH staining in gonadotroph NF-PitNET (P = .0025). Tumor size and invasiveness was not related to FSH staining, E-cadherin, or ERα. LH expression was not associated with E-cadherin or ERα. Conclusion In gonadotroph PitNETs, FSH staining is related to E-cadherin, ERα expression, and circulating levels of P-FSH. There was no association between FSH staining and invasiveness. The clinical significance of these findings will be investigated in ongoing prospective studies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0021-972X
,
1945-7197
DOI:
10.1210/clinem/dgaa281
Language:
English
Publisher:
The Endocrine Society
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2026217-6
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3029-6
Permalink