Molecular alterations in non-functioning pituitary adenomas

• Published in: Cancer biomarkers : section A of Disease markers Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 193 - 199
• Main Authors: Taniguchi-Ponciano, Keiko, Gomez-Apo, Erick, Chavez-Macias, Laura, Vargas, Guadalupe, Espinosa-Cardenas, Etual, Ramirez-Renteria, Claudia, Ferreira-Hermosillo, Aldo, Sosa, Ernesto, Silva-Román, Gloria, Peña-Martínez, Eduardo, Andonegui-Elguera, Sergio, Vargas-Chavez, Sonia, Santiago-Andres, Yorgui, Peralta, Raul, Marrero-Rodríguez, Daniel, Mercado, Moises
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands IOS Press BV 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Adenoma - genetics; Adenoma - pathology; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Calcium; Calcium Channels, L-Type - genetics; Calcium metabolism; Computational Biology; CXCR4 protein; Datasets as Topic; DNA microarrays; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; Genomics; Headache; Homeobox Protein PITX2; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Humans; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Metabolism; Neoplasia; Neoplasms; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Phenotypes; Pituitary; Pituitary (anterior); Pituitary Gland - pathology; Pituitary Neoplasms - genetics; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Receptors, CXCR4 - genetics; Stem cells; Therapeutic applications; Transcription Factors - genetics; Tumors; Visual field; Visual fields; null cell; Non-functioning pituitary adenomas; gonadotropinomas; molecular markers
• ISSN: 1574-0153; 1875-8592
• DOI: 10.3233/CBM-191121

Clinically non-functioning Pituitary Adenomas (NFPA) are among the most common neoplasms of the sellar region. They usually present with compressive symptoms such as headache and visual field defects and not infrequently, are found incidentally. NFPA are classified as gonadotropinomas, null cell adenomas, according to their immunohistochemical phenotype. The molecular alterations responsible for the development of these lesions are incompletely understood, and there is scarce information regarding the molecular alterations and markers. We carried out an in-silico analysis aimed at identifying the molecular alterations in NFPA and to discover new molecular markers. Twenty-three microarray libraries were analyzed. Fourteen correspond to NFPA and 9 to control tissue gland. They were analyzed using Partek Genomic Suite to identify differentially expressed genes and WebGestalt and Metascape to understand the meaning behind the gene lists. Pituitary adenomas showed a markedly different transcriptome compared to the non-tumoral gland, regardless of their putative immunophenotype. Genes related to calcium metabolism such as CACNA2D4, immune-related CXCR4, and stem cell-related KLF8 and PITX2 were altered. Differentially expressed calcium metabolism and immune-related genes in NFPA represent attractive molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets.