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Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) expression in pituitary adenomas: relationship to endocrine function and tumour recurrence

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Abstract

The β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is a marker of malignancies. Recent studies have also reported its expression in pituitary adenomas, although its significance is unclear. In this retrospective study, the authors quantitatively investigated the immunohistochemical expression of β-hCG in 123 patients undergoing surgery for pituitary adenomas and explored its relationship to the rest of the endocrine function, tumour recurrence and Ki-67 nuclear labelling. Based on the endocrine profile and immunohistochemistry, the pituitary adenomas were grouped into non-functioning (NFPA; N = 78) and functioning pituitary adenomas (N = 45). The latter included, 20 growth hormone (GH), 12 prolactin (PRL), 8 adreno-corticotrophin hormone (ACTH) and 5 mixed GH-PRL-producing adenomas. Ninety-three (76%) tumours were classified as primary and 30 (24%) tumours classified as recurrent adenomas. Immunohistochemically, 107 (87%) of pituitary adenomas expressed β-hCG, which was more common in NFPA (91%) than functioning pituitary adenomas (80%). β-hCG expression was not different between primary (86%) and recurrent pituitary adenomas (90%) and it was also not related to raised Ki-67 labelling. But, Ki-67 labelling was raised in recurrent pituitary adenomas (33%), compared to primary pituitary adenomas (11%). Although, β-hCG is expressed in the majority of pituitary adenomas, more especially in NFPA, it is un-related to the risk of tumour recurrence or cellular proliferation as measured by Ki-67 nuclear labelling. The high incidence of β-hCG expression in pituitary adenomas may provide a target for specific β-hCG-directed tumour therapies in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford, Greater Manchester, M6 8HD, UK

    Paul M. Doyle, Waziq A. Thiryayi & Kanna K. Gnanalingham

  2. Department of Neuropathology, Hope Hospital, Manchester, UK

    Abhijit Joshi & Daniel du Plessis

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Hope Hospital, Manchester, UK

    Tara Kearney

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  1. Paul M. Doyle
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  2. Waziq A. Thiryayi
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  3. Abhijit Joshi
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  4. Daniel du Plessis
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  5. Tara Kearney
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  6. Kanna K. Gnanalingham
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Correspondence to Kanna K. Gnanalingham.

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Doyle, P.M., Thiryayi, W.A., Joshi, A. et al. Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) expression in pituitary adenomas: relationship to endocrine function and tumour recurrence. Pituitary 12, 190–195 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-008-0155-x

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