Validation of diagnostic and prognostic potential of PINK1, DLGAP5 and BUB1B expression patterns in adrenocortical tumors

摘要: Adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) are heterogeneous neoplasms with incompletely understood pathogenesis. Correct differential diagnosis between adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) and localized adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), as well as improved prognostic stratification of ACC patients, are of great clinical importance. Alterations in gene expression patterns have been found in adrenocortical neoplasms compared to normal tissue. In addition to having a role in tumorigenesis, distinct gene expression signatures may help to distinguish different ACT types. The combined expression patterns of PINK1, DLGAP5 and BUB1B have been suggested as malignancy and outcome predictors in previous studies. In order to validate their diagnostic/prognostic potential, we investigated the expression levels of these three genes and their association with clinico-pathological parameters in a cohort of 47 ACC and 15 ACA patients …