Immunohistochemical expression of PTTG in brain tumors.

BACKGROUND

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG1) has been implicated in several oncogenic processes. The aim of this study was to determine PTTG expression in brain tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated 88 benign and malignant brain tumors. PTTG immunoexpression was evaluated using a scale of 0 to 3. PTTG immunoexpression was nuclear and cytoplasmic in most tumors, except for medulloblastomas and hemangiopericytomas. Expression was highest in medulloblastomas. Higher grade gliomas including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) IV and astrocytoma III had the highest level of PTTG expression, whereas low-grade gliomas had the lowest levels of PTTG expression. Hemangiopericytomas had the lowest levels of PTTG immunoreactivity, with meningiomas and schwannomas exhibiting similarly low PTTG levels. Nuclear PTTG immunoreactivity was higher than cytoplasmic in higher-grade tumors.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that PTTG immunoexpression is higher in aggressive brain tumors including medulloblastomas, GBM IV, and astrocytoma III, whereas in more benign tumors, PTTG immunoexpression is lower.