Genome-wide DNA Methylation Differences in Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas With and Without Postsurgical...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) pose a mortality risk due to tumor progression in surgically treated patients.
• Current diagnostic methods lack reliable biomarkers for early detection of NFPA progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DNA methylation patterns associated with tumor progression in patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.
• To identify potential epigenetic biomarkers for predicting NFPA recurrence.

Main Methods:

• A case-controlled study involving patients who underwent surgery for NFPAs with gonadotropinoma characteristics.
• Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip platform on tumor samples.
• Comparison of methylation profiles between patients with tumor progression requiring reintervention and those with radiologically stable tumors.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in DNA methylation at 605 CpG positions (differentially methylated positions, DMPs) were observed between the groups, mapping to 389 genes.
• NUP93 and LGALS1 showed the highest number of DMPs.
• Specific hypomethylated and hypermethylated DMPs were individually associated with reintervention-free survival, including one in the GABRA1 gene.

Conclusions:

• DNA methylation patterns are linked to postoperative tumor progression in NFPA patients.
• The identified differentially methylated positions may serve as epigenetic signatures for predicting tumor progression.
• This research is a foundational step towards developing predictive epigenetic biomarkers for NFPA management.