Expression of p53, Ki-67 and c-erb B2 in growth hormone-and/or prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2006-03, Vol.64 (1), p.60-66
• Main Authors: Botelho, Carlos Henrique A, Magalhães, Albino Verçosa de, Mello, Paulo Andrade de, Schmitt, Fernando C, Casulari, Luiz Augusto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Growth Hormone - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Ki-67 Antigen - analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; NEUROSCIENCES; Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Prolactinoma - metabolism; Prolactinoma - pathology; PSYCHIATRY; Receptor, ErbB-2 - analysis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - analysis
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2006000100013

The subcellular events implicated on the formation and behavior of pituitary adenomas are not fully understood. In this study we investigated the presence of p53, Ki-67 and c-erb B2 in 38 pituitary adenomas with immunohistochemical positivity for GH and prolactin (n=26; 68.4%), for prolactin (n=9; 23.7%) and for GH (n=3. 7.8%). The analyses revealed the following results: 24 (63.2%) tumors expressed variable positivity for c-erb B2, 11 (28.9%) expressed p53 positivity and 11 (28.9%) tumors were variably positive for Ki-67. Our results demonstrated a high percentage of GH/prolactin-, prolactin- and GH-secreting tumors with immunohistochemical positivity for c-erb B2. Once this membrane receptor is related to growth factors EGF and TGFalpha and both have a definite effect on tumor growth, our data suggest a possible role for c-erb B2 on the evolution of these tumors.