Association of PTP4A3 expression and tumour size in functioning pituitary adenoma: a descriptive study

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 74; no. 3; pp. 190 - 193
• Main Authors: Moyano Crespo, Gabriela Deisi, Cecenarro, Laura Anahí, Perez, Pablo, Guido, Carolina, Sosa, Liliana del Valle, Berhard, Celina, Aballay, Laura Rosana, Gutiérrez, Silvina, Petiti, Juan Pablo, Torres, Alicia, Mukdsi, Jorge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Adenoma - diagnosis; Adenoma - metabolism; Adenoma - pathology; Adult; Antibodies; Cell cycle; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Histopathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Patients; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - genetics; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - metabolism; Proteins; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Tumors; Young Adult; United States > US; Argentina; immunohistochemistry; pituitary diseases; microscopy, electron; neuropathology
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206728

BackgroundPTP4A3 is a subclass of a protein tyrosine phosphatase super family and is expressed in a range of epithelial neoplasms. We evaluated PTP4A3 expression and its association with clinicopathological parameters in different types of functioning pituitary adenomas.MethodsA total of 34 functioning pituitary adenomas samples were evaluated in this observational study. PTP4A3 expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and, possible correlations between PTP4A3 and some clinicopathological variables were investigated.ResultsPTP4A3 was expressed in 19 out of 34 tumours (55%), at the cytoplasmic level of tumorous cells. Moreover, there was significant association (p=0.042) between PTP4A3 expression and tumorous size.ConclusionsPTP4A3 was expressed in more than half of the tumours analysed, with there being a significant association with the tumorous size of functioning adenomas. This allows to speculate that PTP4A3 may regulate tumour growth, although further investigations are necessary to determine if this phosphatase can serve as a biomarker or used as a therapeutic target in pituitary macroadenomas.