Pituitary adenoma (PA) is one of the most common abnormalities in the sellar region. Despite the fact that PA is a benign monoclonal neoplasm, it can cause serious complications, including ophthalmological, neurological and endocrinological abnormalities. Currently, the causes that increase the progression of tumors are unknown. Epigenetic silencing of the matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ-1) genes may be associated with the development of PA, since these genes are important in the processes of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the methylation status of the MMP-14 and TGFβ-1 promoters is associated with PA development. In the present study, 120 tissue samples of PA were used. The methylation status of the MMP-14 and TGFβ-1 promoters was investigated by methylation specific-polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was conducted to investigate the associations between the methylation status, age and gender of PA patients, PA tumoral activity, recurrence and invasiveness. The MMP-14 gene was methylated in 30.00% (17/56 functioning and 19/64 non-functioning) of patients with PA, while the TGFβ-1 gene was methylated in 13.33% (9/56 functioning and 7/64 non-functioning) of patients with PA. It was also observed that promoter methylation of MMP-14 correlated with the male gender (58.8 vs. 35.7%, P=0.022), while unmethylated (non-silenced) MMP-14 correlated with the female gender (64.3 vs. 41.7%, P=0.027). Associations between the promoter methylation status of the MMP-14 and TGFβ-1 genes and PA functioning or recurrence were not identified. The present study reveals that silencing of the MMP-14 gene correlates with patients' gender. However, MMP-14 and TGFβ-1 promoter methylation cannot be considered as a prognostic marker in PAs.
Keywords: epigenetic deregulation; matrix metalloproteinase-14; methylation; pituitary adenoma; promoter; transforming growth factor beta-1.