Multiple genetic aberrations including evidence of chromosome 11q13 rearrangement detected in pituitary adenomas by comparative genomic hybridization

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECT: This study was conducted to determine whether comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a more sensitive method for detecting genetic aberrations than other tests currently in use. METHODS: The authors used CGH to examine 40 primary and 13 recurrent adenomas obtained from 52 patients for loss and gain of genetic material. Copy number aberrations (CNAs) were detected in 25 (48%) of the 52 patients studied. The chromosomes affected were, in order of decreasing frequency, 11, 7, X, 1, 8, 13, 5, 14, 2, 6, 9, 10, 12, 3, 18, 21, 4, 16, 15, 19, 22, and Y. Endocrinologically active adenomas were more likely to contain (p = 0.009) and had a greater number (p = 0.003) of CNAs. Of 26 adenomas with CNAs, 18 showed multiple aberrations involving entire chromosomes or chromosome arms. The most frequent CNA involving a chromosome subregion, which was present in four (8%) of 53 adenomas, was the loss of all chromosome 11 material except for a preserved common segment containing 11q13. Immunoperoxidase staining did not detect cyclin D1 expression in those four cases, making cyclin D1 an unlikely target of this rearrangement. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that genetic abnormalities are present in pituitary adenomas at a higher rate than previously reported, are associated with endocrinological activity, and often involve several chromosomes. Rearrangement at 11q13 may inactivate a tumor suppressor gene or activate an oncogene that is important in the initiation or progression of sporadic pituitary adenomas.

Medical Subject Headings

Adenoma (genetics, metabolism); Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Chromosome Aberrations (genetics); Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; Cyclin D1 (metabolism); Female; Gene Rearrangement (genetics); Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Pituitary Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism); Sensitivity and Specificity

Publication Date

2-1-1999

Publication Title

Journal of neurosurgery

ISSN

0022-3085

Volume

90

Issue

2

First Page

306

Last Page

14

PubMed ID

9950502

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3171/jns.1999.90.2.0306

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