Immunohistochemical expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in pituitary adenomas: a correlative study of tumor subtypes.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the correlation between immunohistochemical expression of the pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) and pituitary adenoma subtype.

METHODS

Pituitary adenomas (n = 89) were stained for PTTG using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method and a monoclonal PTTG antibody.

RESULTS

PTTG staining was found to be cytoplasmic with a pronounced paranuclear expression pattern. Reactivity was highest in growth hormone (GH) adenomas as compared with other tumors, including prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone/alpha subunit, as well as adrenocorticotrophic hormone-secreting adenomas. PRL adenomas exhibited the lowest expression levels. Among GH adenomas, untreated tumors demonstrated significantly higher PTTG levels than octreotide-treated examples. Although dopamine agonist-treated PRL adenomas tended to show lower expression levels, statistical significance was not reached.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding that PTTG was differentially expressed in pituitary adenoma subtypes suggests a cell-specific function for PTTG. Moreover, treatment of GH adenomas with somatostatin analogues lowered PTTG expression. Further investigation into mechanisms mediating cell-specific expression of PTTG is warranted.