Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 63, 564-569, Copyright © 1986 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

The significance of alpha-subunit as a tumor marker for gonadotropin- producing pituitary adenomas

R Demura, K Jibiki, O Kubo, E Odagiri, H Demura, K Kitamura and K Shizume

We studied gonadotropin hormone alpha-subunit and gonadotropin secretion in four patients with gonadotropin-producing pituitary adenomas. All four patients had elevated plasma alpha-subunit levels, ranging from 2.8-8.5 ng/ml (normal, less than 0.5 ng/ml). alpha-Subunit responses to LHRH were less than those in seven patients with primary gonadal failure. The relative proportions of the gonadotropin and alpha- subunit peaks in one patient were the same before and after LHRH administration, based on gel filtration studies of plasma. The alpha- subunit levels decreased little during testosterone treatment in the two adenoma patients so treated. Immunohistochemical study of the adenomas from two patients demonstrated definite staining with alpha- subunit and gonadotropin antisera. Elevated plasma levels of alpha- subunit and its relative unresponsiveness to LHRH stimulation or testosterone suppression suggest that the alpha-subunit originated in tumor tissue and that its measurement is useful for the diagnosis of a gonadotropin-producing tumor in patients with elevated plasma levels of LH and/or FSH.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. C. Zatelli, D. Piccin, A. Bottoni, M. R. Ambrosio, A. Margutti, R. Padovani, M. Scanarini, J. E. Taylor, M. D. Culler, L. Cavazzini, et al. Evidence for Differential Effects of Selective Somatostatin Receptor Subtype Agonists on {alpha}-Subunit and Chromogranin A Secretion and on Cell Viability in Human Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas in Vitro J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2004; 89(10): 5181 - 5188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]