Indices of apoptosis and proliferation as potential prognostic markers in non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Ibrahim, A.E., Pickering, R.M., Gawne-Cain, M.L., King, S., Lees, P.D. and Ellison, D.W. (2004) Indices of apoptosis and proliferation as potential prognostic markers in non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Clinical Neuropathology, 23 (1), 8 - 15.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) are a distinct group of pituitary adenomas, which comprise approximately 20% of pituitary adenomas. Although most pituitary adenomas are benign, there is a subset of adenomas that behaves in an aggressive fashion, with either invasion of the surrounding structures or recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the behaviour of NFAs can be predicted using immunohistochemical markers that label proliferating and apoptotic cells, including a new marker for apoptosis (M30 CytoDEATH). This is the first study to analyse both the proliferation labelling index (LI) and the apoptotic index (AI) in NFAs and to correlate the labelling indices of these histological markers with tumor growth rate as measured by 2 postoperative MRI scans.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 patients in total were included in the study. 20 patients with high growth rate and percentage change in the pituitary adenoma volume as assessed on 2 postoperative MRI scans were age/sex matched to 20 patients with low growth rate or percentage change.
RESULTS: There is no significant statistical difference of the histological and immunohistochemical indices assessed between cases and controls.
CONCLUSION: The routine assessment of the proliferation and the apoptotic markers used in this study in NFAs has no prognostic value.

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