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Proliferation activity in pituitary adenomas: measurement by monoclonal antibody Ki-67
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical School Vienna, Austria.
Insights
The monoclonal antibody (MAb) Ki-67 is a reliable tool for assessing pituitary adenoma growth rates. Invasive adenomas showed significantly higher proliferation activity than noninvasive ones.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The monoclonal antibody (MAb) Ki-67 identifies a nuclear antigen present in proliferating cells throughout the cell cycle.
- MAb Ki-67 offers a direct method for determining tumor growth rates using frozen sections or cytological smears, unlike traditional histological methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the proliferation activity of pituitary adenomas using the MAb Ki-67.
- To correlate proliferation activity with the hormonal status and invasiveness of pituitary adenomas.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two pituitary adenomas were analyzed using the MAb Ki-67.
- A two-step avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique was employed for immunohistochemical staining.
Main Results:
- Proliferation activity in the studied pituitary adenomas ranged from 0.1% to 2.8%.
- No significant correlation was found between proliferation activity and the hormonal state of the adenomas.
- Pituitary adenomas with histological evidence of dural infiltration exhibited significantly higher proliferation activity (P < 0.05) compared to noninvasive adenomas.
Conclusions:
- MAb Ki-67 is a valuable marker for assessing pituitary adenoma proliferation.
- Tumor invasiveness, specifically dural infiltration, is associated with increased cellular proliferation in pituitary adenomas.
Abstract:
The monoclonal antibody (MAb) Ki-67 detects a nuclear antigen expressed by proliferating cells during the entire cell cycle. In contrast to conventional histological techniques, the use of MAb Ki-67 on frozen sections or cytological smear preparations allows direct determination of the growth rate of tumors routinely. Sixty-two pituitary adenomas were investigated by use of the MAb Ki-67 in a two-step avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. The proliferation activity ranged from 0.1 to 2.8%. There was no significant difference between the proliferation and hormonal state of the adenomas. Adenomas for which there was histological evidence of dural infiltration, however, showed a statistically significant higher proliferation activity (P less than 0.05) compared to noninvasive adenomas.