|
1
|
Serioli S, Agostini L, Pietrantoni A, Valeri F, Costanza F, Chiloiro S, Buffoli B, Piazza A, Poliani PL, Peris-Celda M, Iavarone F, Gaudino S, Gessi M, Schinzari G, Mattogno PP, Giampietro A, De Marinis L, Pontecorvi A, Fontanella MM, Lauretti L, Rindi G, Olivi A, Bianchi A, Doglietto F. Aggressive PitNETs and Potential Target Therapies: A Systematic Review of Molecular and Genetic Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15719. [PMID: 37958702 PMCID: PMC10650665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have allowed a more thorough understanding of tumorigenesis in aggressive PitNETs (pituitary neuroendocrine tumors) through the identification of specific essential genes, crucial molecular pathways, regulators, and effects of the tumoral microenvironment. Target therapies have been developed to cure oncology patients refractory to traditional treatments, introducing the concept of precision medicine. Preliminary data on PitNETs are derived from preclinical studies conducted on cell cultures, animal models, and a few case reports or small case series. This study comprehensively reviews the principal pathways involved in aggressive PitNETs, describing the potential target therapies. A search was conducted on Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science for English papers published between 1 January 2004, and 15 June 2023. 254 were selected, and the topics related to aggressive PitNETs were recorded and discussed in detail: epigenetic aspects, membrane proteins and receptors, metalloprotease, molecular pathways, PPRK, and the immune microenvironment. A comprehensive comprehension of the molecular mechanisms linked to PitNETs' aggressiveness and invasiveness is crucial. Despite promising preliminary findings, additional research and clinical trials are necessary to confirm the indications and effectiveness of target therapies for PitNETs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Serioli
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Ludovico Agostini
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | | | - Federico Valeri
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Flavia Costanza
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Chiloiro
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Barbara Buffoli
- Section of Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Amedeo Piazza
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery Division, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Pietro Luigi Poliani
- Pathology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Maria Peris-Celda
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy;
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario IRCCS “A. Gemelli”, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Gaudino
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Institute of Radiology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gessi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Mattogno
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marco Maria Fontanella
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Liverana Lauretti
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Guido Rindi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Olivi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Pituitary Unit, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Doglietto
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Rome, Italy; (L.A.); (F.V.); (F.C.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (G.S.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.L.); (G.R.); (A.O.); (A.B.); (F.D.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Zheng X, Li S, Zhang W, Zang Z, Hu J, Yang H. Current biomarkers of invasive sporadic pituitary adenomas. ANNALES D'ENDOCRINOLOGIE 2016; 77:658-667. [PMID: 27659267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Though pituitary adenomas (PA) are considered benign, some of them exhibit invasive behaviors such as recurrence and low rate of total surgical resection. Reliable prognostic biomarkers for invasive PA are highly desired; however they remain to be identified. In this review, we summarize the current controversial findings of biomarkers for invasive sporadic PA, and we discuss the possible reasons for the controversies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 183, Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
| | - Song Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 183, Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhenle Zang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 183, Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
| | - Jintao Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 183, Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 183, Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Cai L, Leng ZG, Guo YH, Lin SJ, Wu ZR, Su ZP, Lu JL, Wei LF, Zhuge QC, Jin K, Wu ZB. Dopamine agonist resistance-related endocan promotes angiogenesis and cells viability of prolactinomas. Endocrine 2016; 52:641-51. [PMID: 26662185 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-015-0824-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine agonists (DAs) are the first-line treatment of prolactinomas. They function through the dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) in the tumor cells. Endocan, also called endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM1), has been described as a marker of neoangiogenesis. However, whether ESM1 promotes the resistance of prolactinomas to DA therapy is largely unknown. In our study, 25 patients with prolactinomas were divided into resistant- and sensitive- groups according to the clinical response to bromocriptine. We found that ESM1-microvessel density of resistant prolactinomas was significantly higher than that of sensitive prolactinomas (47.9 ± 11.6, n = 8, vs 13.1 ± 2.8, n = 17, p = 0.0006), indicating that ESM1 was a DA resistance-related gene. Immunostaining showed that ESM1 was expressed in tumor vessels and sporadic tumor cells, and ESM1 was overlapped with the Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) and von Willebrand Factor (VWF) in the tumor vessels. Silencing of ESM1 markedly suppressed the viability of GH3 and MMQ cells in vitro, and furthermore, significantly increased the sensitivity of GH3 and MMQ cells to DA treatment. Additionally, silencing of ESM1 down-regulated the angiogenesis-associated genes, such as VEGFR2, FGF2, CD34, CD31, VWF, and EGFR. Knockdown of ESM1 decreased endothelial tube formation of HUVECs, and significantly increased the sensitivity of HUVECs to Avastin treatment. Therefore, we first demonstrate that DA resistance-related ESM1 promotes the angiogenesis and tumor cells growth of prolactinomas, suggesting that ESM1 may be a novel therapeutic target for prolactinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhi Gen Leng
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Yu Hang Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Shao Jian Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ze Rui Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhi Peng Su
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Jiang Long Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Li Fei Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Qi Chuan Zhuge
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Kunlin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Zhe Bao Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Recouvreux MV, Camilletti MA, Rifkin DB, Díaz-Torga G. The pituitary TGFβ1 system as a novel target for the treatment of resistant prolactinomas. J Endocrinol 2016; 228:R73-83. [PMID: 26698564 PMCID: PMC4760866 DOI: 10.1530/joe-15-0451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Prolactinomas are the most frequently observed pituitary adenomas and most of them respond well to conventional treatment with dopamine agonists (DAs). However, a subset of prolactinomas fails to respond to such therapies and is considered as DA-resistant prolactinomas (DARPs). New therapeutic approaches are necessary for these tumors. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a known inhibitor of lactotroph cell proliferation and prolactin secretion, and it partly mediates dopamine inhibitory action. TGFβ1 is secreted to the extracellular matrix as an inactive latent complex, and its bioavailability is tightly regulated by different components of the TGFβ1 system including latent binding proteins, local activators (thrombospondin-1, matrix metalloproteases, integrins, among others), and TGFβ receptors. Pituitary TGFβ1 activity and the expression of different components of the TGFβ1 system are regulated by dopamine and estradiol. Prolactinomas (animal models and humans) present reduced TGFβ1 activity as well as reduced expression of several components of the TGFβ1 system. Therefore, restoration of TGFβ1 inhibitory activity represents a novel therapeutic approach to bypass dopamine action in DARPs. The aim of this review is to summarize the large literature supporting TGFβ1 important role as a local modulator of pituitary lactotroph function and to provide recent evidence of the restoration of TGFβ1 activity as an effective treatment in experimental prolactinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Victoria Recouvreux
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina ExperimentalConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of MedicineCedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USADepartment of Cell BiologyNew York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA Instituto de Biología y Medicina ExperimentalConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of MedicineCedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USADepartment of Cell BiologyNew York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - M Andrea Camilletti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina ExperimentalConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of MedicineCedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USADepartment of Cell BiologyNew York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Daniel B Rifkin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina ExperimentalConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of MedicineCedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USADepartment of Cell BiologyNew York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Graciela Díaz-Torga
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina ExperimentalConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of MedicineCedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USADepartment of Cell BiologyNew York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
|
5
|
Zhang J, Yang W, Zhao D, Han Y, Liu B, Zhao H, Wang H, Zhang Q, Xu G. Correlation between TSP-1, TGF-β and PPAR-γ expression levels and glioma microvascular density. Oncol Lett 2013; 7:95-100. [PMID: 24348828 PMCID: PMC3861559 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2013.1650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common type of primary tumor in the central nervous system and are characterized by abundant capillary angiogenesis. It is important to study the underlying molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis in order to aid the identification of potential therapeutic targets. The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression levels of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in gliomas, and determine their relationships with angiogenesis. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect TSP-1, TGF-β and PPAR-γ expression levels and to assess microvascular density (MVD) in 99 glioma tissue samples of various grades. The total positive expression rates of TSP-1 and PPAR-γ were 78.4 and 94.1% in low-grade gliomas and 45.8 and 39.6% in high-grade gliomas. These values suggest that their expression negatively correlated with tumor grade. However, TGF-β expression positively correlated with tumor grade; the total positive expression rate of TGF-β in high-grade gliomas (93.8%) was significantly increased compared with that in low-grade gliomas (43.1%). The MVD in the low-grade group was 28±7.2 vessels/field, which was significantly lower than in the high-grade group (45±6.2 vessels/field). TSP-1 and PPAR-γ expression levels were negatively correlated with MVD (P<0.05), while the TGF-β expression level was positively correlated with MVD (P<0.05). These results indicate that the TSP-1, TGF-β and PPAR-γ expression levels in gliomas are correlated with MVD, which suggests that these proteins may be involved in the regulation of glioma angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, P.R. China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China
| | - Duanyun Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong 274000, P.R. China
| | - Yun Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong 274000, P.R. China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, P.R. China
| | - Hua Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, P.R. China
| | - Hongbo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong 274000, P.R. China
| | - Quanzhong Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong 274000, P.R. China
| | - Guangming Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
|
6
|
Elenkova A, Atanassova I, Kirilov G, Vasilev V, Kalinov K, Zacharieva S. Transforming growth factor β1 is not a reliable biomarker for valvular fibrosis but could be a potential serum marker for invasiveness of prolactinomas (pilot study). Eur J Endocrinol 2013; 169:299-306. [PMID: 23801826 DOI: 10.1530/eje-13-0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling pathway is crucial for both human fibrogenesis and tumorigenesis. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of TGFβ1 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) as potential circulating markers for fibrotic valvular heart disease (FVHD) and invasiveness as well as of Fetuin A as a marker for calcification in patients with prolactinomas. DESIGN The study population consisted of 147 subjects divided into four groups: 30 dopamine agonist (DA)-treated prolactinoma patients with proven FVHD and three control groups with normal echocardiograms: 43 DA-treated patients, 26 naïve patients, and 48 healthy subjects. RESULTS We observed significantly higher serum TGFβ1 levels in all three patient groups than in the healthy subjects (21.4 ± 8.86 vs 19.1 ± 9.03 vs 20.7±11.5 vs 15.8 ± 7.2 ng/ml; P=0.032). Moreover, TGFβ1 levels were significantly higher in patients with macroprolactinomas and invasive prolactinomas than in those with microprolactinomas and noninvasive tumors respectively. In addition, a strong positive linear relationship between TGFβ1 levels and invasiveness score (ρ=0.924; P<0.001) and a moderate correlation between TGFβ1 levels and tumor volume (r=0.546; P<0.002) were observed in patients with invasive prolactinomas. By contrast, prolactin (PRL) levels exhibited a better correlation with tumor volume (r=0.721; P<0.001) than with invasiveness score (ρ=0.436; P<0.020). No significant difference was observed in Fetuin A levels between patients with FVHD and healthy controls. Results concerning MMP2 were unclear. CONCLUSIONS TGFβ1, MMP2, and Fetuin A are not reliable biomarkers for valvular fibrosis and calcification in DA-treated patients with prolactinomas, but TGFβ1 may represent a useful serum marker for tumor invasiveness. The simultaneous determination of TGFβ1 and PRL levels could improve the noninvasive assessment of prolactinoma behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atanaska Elenkova
- Clinical Centre of Endocrinology, USHATE Acad Ivan Pentchev, Medical University, 2 Zdrave Street, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|