Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) is essential for quality of life in both children and adults, but it is also believed to enhance the growth of various neoplasms. However, the role of GH in the brain, particularly in brain tumors, has yet to be established. To clarify these problems from the perspective of receptor expression, we examined GH receptor (GHR) expression in brain tumors using immunohistochemistry and the correlation between GHR expression and clinical features. Surgical specimens obtained from patients with brain tumors (106 pituitary adenomas, 12 craniopharyngiomas, 13 germ cell tumors, 6 medulloblastomas, and 12 malignant gliomas) were examined immunohistochemically for GHR expression. The GHR positive rate was lower in malignant tumors than in benign tumors (59% in pituitary adenomas, 73% in craniopharyngiomas, 23% in germ cell tumors, and 0% in medulloblastomas and gliomas). GHR staining in pituitary adenomas was weaker than that in normal pituitary gland. Among the GH-producing pituitary adenomas, there was no difference in size between GHR-positive and -negative tumors. However, among the non-GH-producing adenomas, GHR-positive tumors were significantly smaller. Thus, immunohistochemical GHR expression may have, at least in part, a negative impact on tumor growth potential in brain tumors.

Authors

Sakoguchi T, Hama S, Tominaga A, Kinoshita Y, Sugiyama K, Arita K, Kurisu K

Institution

Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.

Source

Hiroshima journal of medical sciences 61:1 2012 Mar pg 1-6

MeSH

Adenoma
Adult
Aged
Brain Neoplasms
Carrier Proteins
Cerebellar Neoplasms
Craniopharyngioma
Female
Glioma
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Japan
Male
Medulloblastoma
Middle Aged
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
Pituitary Neoplasms
Tumor Burden

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22702213