Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in adrenocortical adenomas is frequently due to somatic CTNNB1-activating mutations, which are associated with larger and nonsecreting tumors: a study in cortisol-secreting and -nonsecreting tumors.

BACKGROUND

Abnormal β-catenin immunohistochemistry and mutations of the β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) have been reported in adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs), but the frequencies of these defects and the phenotype of such tumors have not been clearly determined.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to describe the Wnt/β-catenin pathway alterations in 100 ACAs and their association with clinicopathological characteristics.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred consecutive ACAs (excluding Conn's adenomas) were studied clinically by β-catenin immunohistochemistry and direct sequencing of CTNNB1.

RESULTS

Thirty-five ACAs were nonsecreting adenomas (NSAs), 19 were subclinical cortisol secreting adenomas (SCSAs), and 46 were cortisol secreting adenomas (CSAs). Fifty-one tumors had abnormal cytoplasmic and/or nuclear β-catenin immunohistochemical staining, indicating Wnt/β-catenin pathway alteration. Thirty-six tumors showed CTNNB1 mutations, which all showed abnormal immunohistochemical β-catenin accumulation. Among the 64 nonmutated tumors, only 15 (23%) showed cytoplasmic and/or nuclear β-catenin staining (P < 0.0001). Tumors with CTNNB1 mutations were predominantly nonsecreting (61% NSAs, 22% SCSAs, 16% CSAs) whereas nonmutated tumors were predominantly secreting (20% NSAs, 17% SCSAs, 62% CSAs) (P < 0.0001). Mean tumor size and weight were, respectively, 4.2 cm (± 1.3) and 28.4 g (± 21.4) for tumors with CTNNB1 mutations vs. 3.4 cm (± 0.9) and 18.2 g (± 8.2) for nonmutated tumors (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal cytoplasmic and/or nuclear β-catenin immunohistochemical staining occurs in about half of ACAs. This suggests the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which could be explained by activating mutations of CTNNB1 in 70% of the cases. CTNNB1 mutations are mainly observed in larger and nonsecreting ACAs, suggesting that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation is associated with the development of less differentiated ACAs.