Pituitary Adenoma: rs2236750, rs34037914, and rs267606574 Genetic Variants, Serum Levels, and Ki-67 Labeling Index Associations.

This study explores the complex pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas (PAs), prevalent intracranial tumors in the pituitary gland. Despite their generally benign nature, PAs exhibit a diverse clinical spectrum involving hormone hypersecretion and varying invasiveness, hinting at multifaceted molecular mechanisms and abnormalities in tumorigenesis and gene regulation. The investigation focuses on the Ki-67 labeling index, rs2236750, rs34037914, and rs267606574 polymorphisms, alongside serum levels of SSTR2, SSTR5, and AIP, to discern their association with PAs. The Ki-67 labeling index was assessed using immunohistochemical analysis with the monoclonal antibody clone SP6, representing the percentage of tumor cells showing positive staining. Genotyping was performed via real-time polymerase chain reaction, and serum levels were analyzed using ELISA. The study included 128 PA patients and 272 reference group subjects. The results derived from binary logistic regression analysis revealed an intriguing correlation between the rs2236750 AG genotype and approximately a 1.6-fold increased likelihood of PA occurrence. When analyzing rs34037914, statistically significant differences were found between Micro-PA and the reference group ( = 0.022). Additionally, the rs34037914 TT genotype, compared with CC + CT, under the most robust genetic model (selected based on the lowest AIC value), was associated with a 12-fold increased odds of Micro-PA occurrence. However, it is noteworthy that after applying Bonferroni correction, these findings did not retain statistical significance. Consequently, while this study hinted at a potential link between rs2236750 and pituitary adenoma development, as well as a potential link between rs34037914 and Micro-PA development, it underscored the need for further analysis involving a larger cohort to robustly validate these findings.