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Auriemma RS, Pirchio R, Pivonello C, Garifalos F, Colao A, Pivonello R. Approach to the Patient With Prolactinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:2400-2423. [PMID: 36974474 PMCID: PMC10438891 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Prolactinomas are the most common pituitary tumor histotype, with microprolactinomas being prevalent in women and macroprolactinomas in men. Hyperprolactinemia is among the most common causes of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in both sexes, prompting medical advice for hypogonadism (infertility, oligo-amenorrhea, impotence, osteoporosis/osteopenia) in both sexes, and for signs and symptoms of mass effects (hypopituitarism, visual loss, optic chiasm compression, cranial nerve deficits, headaches) predominantly in men. Diagnostic workup involves a single prolactin measurement and pituitary imaging, but some laboratory artifacts (ie, the "hook effect" and macroprolactin) can complicate or delay the diagnosis. The treatment of choice for prolactinomas is represented by dopamine agonists, mainly cabergoline, which are able to induce disease control, restore fertility in both sexes, and definitively cure one-third of patients, thus permitting treatment discontinuation. Pregnancy and menopause may promote spontaneous prolactin decline and anticipate cabergoline discontinuation in women. Surgery and/or radiotherapy are indicated in case of resistance to cabergoline not overcome by the increase in drug dose up to the maximally tolerated or the patient's personal choice of surgery. The evidence of resistance to cabergoline in invasive and proliferative tumors may indicate biological aggressiveness, thus requiring alternative therapeutic approaches mainly based on temozolomide use as monotherapy or combined with radiotherapy. In uncontrolled patients, new medical approaches (alternative hormonal treatments, cytotoxic drugs, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, mTOR/Akt inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or immunotherapy) may be offered but the experience collected to date is still very scant. This article reviews different facets of prolactinomas and discusses approaches to the condition in more common clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata S Auriemma
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Pirchio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Garifalos
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Unità di Andrologia e Medicina della Riproduzione e Sessualità Maschile e Femminile (FERTISEXCARES), Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, “Federico II” University, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Unità di Andrologia e Medicina della Riproduzione e Sessualità Maschile e Femminile (FERTISEXCARES), Università Federico II di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, “Federico II” University, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Sánchez ML, Coveñas R. The Galaninergic System: A Target for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3755. [PMID: 35954419 PMCID: PMC9367524 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review is to show the involvement of the galaninergic system in neuroendocrine (phaeochromocytomas, insulinomas, neuroblastic tumors, pituitary tumors, small-cell lung cancer) and non-neuroendocrine (gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, glioma) tumors. The galaninergic system is involved in tumorigenesis, invasion/migration of tumor cells and angiogenesis, and this system has been correlated with tumor size/stage/subtypes, metastasis and recurrence rate. In the galaninergic system, epigenetic mechanisms have been related with carcinogenesis and recurrence rate. Galanin (GAL) exerts both proliferative and antiproliferative actions in tumor cells. GAL receptors (GALRs) mediate different signal transduction pathways and actions, depending on the particular G protein involved and the tumor cell type. In general, the activation of GAL1R promoted an antiproliferative effect, whereas the activation of GAL2R induced antiproliferative or proliferative actions. GALRs could be used in certain tumors as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for treatment, prognosis and surgical outcome. The current data show the importance of the galaninergic system in the development of certain tumors and suggest future potential clinical antitumor applications using GAL agonists or antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lisardo Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía de los Sistema Peptidérgicos (Lab. 14), Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Universidad de Salamanca, c/Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía de los Sistema Peptidérgicos (Lab. 14), Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Universidad de Salamanca, c/Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Grupo GIR USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Camilletti MA, Abeledo-Machado A, Faraoni EY, Thomas P, Díaz-Torga G. New insights into progesterone actions on prolactin secretion and prolactinoma development. Steroids 2019; 152:108496. [PMID: 31521709 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2019.108496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone (P4) has controversial physiological effects on the regulation of the lactotroph population. While some studies have shown a negative role for P4 in prolactin secretion and lactotroph proliferation, antagonizing estradiol effects, others demonstrated a proliferative role of P4 at the pituitary level. Usually, progesterone actions in the pituitary gland were studied through their classical, genomic pathways triggered by nuclear progesterone receptors (nPRs). However, in 2003, the scene became more complex with the discovery of another group of progesterone receptors involved in rapid, non-genomic P4 effects: the membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which are members of the progesterone and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. This review examines the historical background and current data on the study of progesterone actions on PRL secretion providing new evidence of P4 effects at the hypothalamic and at the pituitary level through non-classic P4-receptors. In addition, we explore the role of progesterone in the development of experimental prolactinomas, a controversial topic in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- María A Camilletti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Erika Y Faraoni
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Peter Thomas
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Graciela Díaz-Torga
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Camilletti MA, Abeledo-Machado A, Perez PA, Faraoni EY, De Fino F, Rulli SB, Ferraris J, Pisera D, Gutierrez S, Thomas P, Díaz-Torga G. mPRs represent a novel target for PRL inhibition in experimental prolactinomas. Endocr Relat Cancer 2019; 26:497-510. [PMID: 30856609 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Membrane progesterone receptors are known to mediate rapid nongenomic progesterone effects in different cell types. Recent evidence revealed that mPRα is highly expressed in the rat pituitary, being primarily localized in lactotrophs, acting as an intermediary of P4-inhibitory actions on prolactin secretion. The role of mPRs in prolactinoma development remains unclear. We hypothesize that mPR agonists represent a novel tool for hyperprolactinemia treatment. To this end, pituitary expression of mPRs was studied in three animal models of prolactinoma. Expression of mPRs and nuclear receptor was significantly decreased in tumoral pituitaries compared to normal ones. However, the relative proportion of mPRα and mPRβ was highly increased in prolactinomas. Interestingly, the selective mPR agonist (Org OD 02-0) significantly inhibited PRL release in both normal and tumoral pituitary explants, displaying a more pronounced effect in tumoral tissues. As P4 also regulates PRL secretion indirectly, by acting on dopaminergic neurons, we studied mPR involvement in this effect. We found that the hypothalamus has a high expression of mPRs. Interestingly, both P4 and OrgOD 02-0 increased dopamine release in hypothalamus explants. Moreover, in an in vivo treatment, that allows both, pituitary and hypothalamus actions, the mPR agonist strongly reduced the hyperprolactinemia in transgenic females carrying prolactinoma. Finally, we also found and interesting gender difference: males express higher levels of pituitary mPRα/β, a sex that does not develop prolactinoma in these mice models. Taken together, these findings suggest mPRs activation could represent a novel tool for hyperprolactinemic patients, especially those that present resistance to dopaminergic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pablo A Perez
- Centro de Microscopia Electrónica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Erika Y Faraoni
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernanda De Fino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Susana B Rulli
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena Ferraris
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), Facultad de Medicina, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Pisera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), Facultad de Medicina, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Gutierrez
- Centro de Microscopia Electrónica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Peter Thomas
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, USA
| | - Graciela Díaz-Torga
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Amaral VC, Maciel GAR, Carvalho KC, Marcondes RR, Soares JM, Baracat EC. Metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia effects on the pituitary and uterine prolactin receptor expression. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 189:105-10. [PMID: 23684968 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In this work we have evaluated the gene expression profile of prolactin and prolactin receptor in the pituitary and the uterus of female mice with metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia treated with estrogen and/or progesterone. For this purpose, 49 Swiss female mice were allocated to seven groups. INTERVENTIONS 50-day treatment with metoclopramide, progesterone and estrogen. Our results showed that in the pituitary, metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia increased prolactin expression. In the castrated animals, progesterone, with or without estrogen, produced an increase in prolactin. Pituitary prolactin receptor and the estrogen and progesterone treatment were responsible for the rise in PRLR-S2. In the uterus, no differences in prolactin expression were found between the different study groups. PRLR-S1 had its expression reduced in all castrated animals as against the castrated group treated with vehicle. In the noncastrated animals, PRLR-S2 rose in the metoclopramide-treated group, and, in the castrated animals, its expression diminished in all groups in relation to the vehicle-treated castrated controls. An increase in PRLR-S3 was found in the oophorectomized animals treated with a combination of estrogen and progesterone. PRLR-L rose in the oophorectomized animals treated with progesterone in isolation or in association with estrogen. These findings suggest that metoclopramide associated to progesterone or estrogen may determine an increase in pituitary prolactin and PRLR-S2 expression. The estrogen-progesterone may enhance the expression of PRLR-S3 and PRLR-L isoform of prolactin receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius C Amaral
- Laboratorio de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM-58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Ahtiainen P, Sharp V, Rulli SB, Rivero-Müller A, Mamaeva V, Röyttä M, Huhtaniemi I. Enhanced LH action in transgenic female mice expressing hCGbeta-subunit induces pituitary prolactinomas; the role of high progesterone levels. Endocr Relat Cancer 2010; 17:611-21. [PMID: 20453081 PMCID: PMC2881531 DOI: 10.1677/erc-10-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of pituitary adenomas remains largely unknown, with the exception of involvement of estrogens in the formation of prolactinomas. We have examined the molecular pathogenesis of prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas in transgenic female mice expressing the human choriongonadotropin (hCG) beta-subunit. The LH/CG bioactivity is elevated in the mice, with consequent highly stimulated ovarian progesterone (P(4)) production, in the face of normal estrogen secretion. Curiously, despite normal estrogen levels, large prolactinomas developed in these mice, and we provide here several lines of evidence that the elevated P(4) levels are involved in the growth of these estrogen-dependent tumors. The antiprogestin mifepristone inhibited tumor growth, and combined postgonadectomy estradiol/P(4) treatment was more effective than estrogen alone in inducing tumor growth. Evidence for direct growth-promoting effect of P(4) was obtained from cultures of primary mouse pituitary cells and rat somatomammotroph GH3 cells. The mouse tumors and cultured cells revealed stimulation of the cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase 4/retinoblastoma protein/transcription factor E2F1 pathway in the growth response to P(4). If extrapolated to humans, and given the importance of endogenous P(4) and synthetic progestins in female reproductive functions and their pharmacotherapy, it is relevant to revisit the potential role of these hormones in the origin and growth of prolactinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petteri Ahtiainen
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of TurkuFIN-20520, TurkuFinland
- Turku Graduate School of Biomedical ScienceUniversity of TurkuFIN-20520, TurkuFinland
| | - Victoria Sharp
- Department of Surgery and CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NNUK
| | - Susana B Rulli
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of TurkuFIN-20520, TurkuFinland
- Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine-CONICETVuelta de Obligado 2490, , Buenos Aires, 1428Argentina
| | | | - Veronika Mamaeva
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of TurkuFIN-20520, TurkuFinland
| | - Matias Röyttä
- Department of PathologyUniversity of TurkuTurku, FIN-20520Finland
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of TurkuFIN-20520, TurkuFinland
- Department of Surgery and CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NNUK
- Correspondence should be addressed to I Huhtaniemi at Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, UK ()
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Piroli GG, Pietranera L, Grillo CA, De Nicola AF. Gender differences in the expression of galanin and vasoactive intestinal peptide in oestrogen-induced prolactinomas of Fischer 344 rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2004; 16:64-71. [PMID: 14962078 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2004.01130.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We have previously described a sexual dimorphism in oestrogen-induced anterior pituitary tumorigenesis in Fischer 344 rats, with female tumours averaging twice the size of those of males. Neonatal androgenization of female Fischer 344 rats with 100 micro g of testosterone propionate reverted that effect, causing a 'male-like' phenotype. The peptides galanin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are possible mediators of oestrogen effects on the anterior pituitary, including hyperprolactinemia and lactotroph proliferation. To further extend our previous findings, we investigated the expression of galanin and VIP in the anterior pituitary of control and oestrogenized male, female and neonatally androgenized female Fischer 344 rats. At 3 months of age, rats were deprived of their gonads and divided into control and diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated groups. In the anterior pituitary of control rats, galanin and VIP immunoreactive cells were absent. However, in DES-treated rats, pituitaries from normal ovariectomized females showed higher number of galanin and VIP positive cells than pituitaries from neonatally androgenized ovariectomized females and gonadectomized males. This pattern correlated with changes in anterior pituitary weight and serum prolactin. Our study suggests that sexual differences in oestrogen-induced pituitary tumorigenesis could be due to the differential expression of galanin and VIP. Furthermore, our data support the fact that neonatal exposure to androgens, as in normal males and androgenized females, may condition the response of the pituitary gland to oestrogens in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Piroli
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Neuroendócrina, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Berger A, Santic R, Almer D, Hauser-Kronberger C, Huemer M, Humpel C, Stockhammer G, Sperl W, Kofler B. Galanin and galanin receptors in human gliomas. Acta Neuropathol 2003; 105:555-60. [PMID: 12734662 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-003-0680-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2002] [Revised: 01/13/2003] [Accepted: 01/13/2003] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Galanin-like immunoreactivity (GAL-LI) and specific GAL binding sites have been shown to be widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and in CNS tumors. GAL and its receptors have also been shown to be present in glial cells, but to date it is still unknown whether human gliomas produce GAL and express GAL receptors. In this study 20 brain tumors consisting of 15 glioblastomas, 4 meningiomas and 1 gliosarcoma were investigated for the presence of GAL-LI and GAL receptors. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a dense network of GAL-LI positive cellular processes and cell bodies in 18 of the 20 tumors. In contrast, in vitro (125)I-labeled GAL receptor autoradiography showed substantial GAL binding in only 6 glioblastoma tissues. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis detected mRNA of all three known galanin receptors in the tumor tissues, with most tumors expressing multiple receptor subtypes. Pharmacological analysis of tumor membrane homogenates with GAL and the specific GAL receptor GalR2 agonist, AR-M1896, revealed that the GAL receptor GalR1 is most likely the receptor responsible for the observed GAL binding in the glioblastomas. No correlation could be found between GAL-LI, the level of GAL binding and proliferative activity as determined by immunostaining with the cell proliferation marker Ki-67.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Berger
- Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
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