Simona Borsari

Should parafibromin staining replace HRTP2 gene analysis as an additional tool for histologic diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE HRPT2 gene mutations are associated with parathyroid carcinomas, and absence of parafibromin immunoreactivity has been suggested as a diagnostic marker of malignancy. The aim of our study was to extend parafibromin studies in a series of benign and malignant parathyroid tumors and cross-validate the results of immunohistochemistry with those of HRPT2 analysis. DESIGN AND PATIENTS We performed parafibromin and cyclin D1 immunostaining and HRPT2 gene analysis using loss of heterozygosity studies and sequencing analysis in parathyroid specimens from 11 patients with carcinoma (eleven primary tumors, one skin, and four lung metastases), 22 with sporadic adenomas, and 4 with atypical adenomas. RESULTS Ten out of eleven parathyroid cancers were negative for parafibromin staining and showed HRPT2 gene abnormalities. The remaining sample was negative for immunostaining and genetic analyses. All but one sporadic adenomas showed parafibromin immunoreactivity and no HRPT2 gene abnormalities. The sample with negative immunostaining carried an HRPT2 mutation. Two atypical adenomas were positive and two negative with parafibromin staining. No HRPT2 abnormalities were found in these samples. Cyclin D1 expression was heterogeneous and there was no relationship between expression/expression level of cyclin D1 and parafibromin expression. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that negative parafibromin staining is almost invariably associated with HRPT2 mutations and confirm that loss of parafibromin staining strongly predicts parathyroid malignancy. In clinical practice, these tests could be particularly useful in the subset of parathyroid tumors with equivocal histological examination. However, their diagnostic value in this setting remains to be proven.

Genetic analyses in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism: implication for clinical assessment and surgical management.

Objective  Familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism (FIPH) can result from either incomplete expression of a syndromic form of familial primary hyperparathyroidism [multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1), hyperparathyroidism–jaw tumour syndrome (HPT‐JT) or familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH)] or still unrecognized causes.

A reappraisal of the Rb1 gene abnormalities in the diagnosis of parathyroid cancer

objectives  Some histological features may suggest the malignant nature of a parathyroid tumour. However, the diagnosis of parathyroid cancer can only be definitively established in the presence of local invasion or metastases.

Calcium-sensing receptor gene polymorphisms in primary hyperparathyroidism

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) polymorphism A986S has been found to be associated with higher serum calcium levels in normal subjects, suggesting that this amino acid change might decrease the inhibitory activity of the mutated receptor, render the parathyroid cells more prone to proliferate, and eventually increase the risk of developing primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of this and other 2 known CaR polymorphisms (R990G and Q1011E) in patients with PHPT and their effect on its phenotype. We studied 103 Italian patients with PHPT and 148 healthy Italian subjects and we compared the results in 50 pairs matched for sex, age and geographic provenience. A fragment of exon 7 of the CaR gene, containing the 3 polymorphic loci of interest (A986S, R990G, and Q1011E), was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Serum calcium and PTH levels, BMD and other biochemical and clinical parameters were evaluated. The frequency distribution of the A986S, R990G, and Q1011E polymorphisms in the 103 PHPT patients was 39.8%, 5.8%, and 2.0%, respectively. There was no difference in the frequency of the 3 CaR polymorphisms in the 50 matched pairs of patients and controls. We found no significant difference in several clinical and biochemical parameters between PHPT patients carrying or not the 986S allele. Finally, no relationship was observed between the 986S genotype and total and ionized serum calcium in control subjects. The A986S CaR polymorphism is the most common in Italian PHPT patients and the allotype AS does not appear to play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of PHPT and its severity. The A986S polymorphism does not correlate with serum calcium levels in normal Italian subjects.

CDC73 mutational status and loss of parafibromin in the outcome of parathyroid cancer

Inactivating mutations of the CDC73 tumor suppressor gene have been reported in parathyroid carcinomas (PC), in association with the loss of nuclear expression of the encoded protein, parafibromin. The aim of this study was to further investigate the role of the CDC73 gene in PC and evaluate whether gene carrier status and/or the loss of parafibromin staining might have an effect on the outcome of the disease. We performed genetic and immunohistochemical studies in parathyroid tumor samples from 35 patients with sporadic PC. Nonsense or frameshift CDC73 mutations were detected in 13 samples suitable for DNA sequencing. Six of these mutations were germline. Loss of parafibromin expression was found in 17 samples. The presence of the CDC73 mutation as well as the loss of parafibromin predicted a high likelihood of subsequent recurrence and/or metastasis (92.3%, P=0.049 and 94.1%, P=0.0017 respectively), but only the latter was associated with a decreased overall 5- and 10-year survival rates (59%, P=0.107, and 23%, P=0.0026 respectively). The presence of both the CDC73 mutation and loss of parafibromin staining compared with their absence predicted a lower overall survival at 10- (18 vs 84%, P=0.016) but not at 5-year follow-up. In conclusion, loss of parafibromin staining, better than CDC73 mutation, predicts the clinical outcome and mortality rate. The added value of CDC73 mutational analysis is the possibility of identifying germline mutations, which will prompt the screening of other family members.

Genetic analysis of the MEN1 gene and HPRT2 locus in two Italian kindreds with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism

OBJECTIVES Familial hyperparathyroidism may occur as part of hereditary syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2 (MEN1 and MEN2A), hyperparathyroidism‐jaw tumour (HPT‐JT) syndrome and familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP). It is unclear whether the latter is a distinct genetic entity or a variant of MEN1 or HPT‐JT, where, because of reduced penetrance, only primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is present. In the present study, we describe two unrelated Italian kindreds with FIHP, in which the clinical, histopathological and genetic analyses of the MEN1 gene and HPRT2 locus at 1q21‐32 suggest that both might be a variant of MEN1 and HPT‐JT syndromes.

Two Italian kindreds with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia caused by loss‐of‐function mutations in the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaR) gene: functional characterization of a novel CaR missense mutation

objectives Description of two unrelated Italian kindreds with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH), an autosomal dominant disease mostly caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations of the Ca2+ sensing receptor (CaR).

β-catenin activation is not involved in sporadic parathyroid carcinomas and adenomas

Aberrant accumulation of beta-catenin has been found in various types of human tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is activated in parathyroid carcinomas and adenomas. We studied 154 parathyroid tumors (18 carcinomas (13 with distant metastases), six atypical adenomas, and 130 adenomas). Three normal parathyroid tissues were used as control. Direct sequencing of exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene showed absence of stabilizing mutations in all the tumors. Immunostaining of beta-catenin was performed in all carcinomas and in 66 adenomas (including three atypical). Normal parathyroid showed a homogeneous distinct outer cell membrane staining in the majority of cells and no nuclear staining. A weak cytoplasmic staining was observed in one case. All tumors showed negative nuclear staining. With the exception of one carcinoma, which had a negative membrane staining, all other samples showed a membrane staining which was similar to that of the normal parathyroid. beta-Catenin expression was heterogeneous with a range of positive cells between 5 and 80%, independently of tumor type. Our results suggest that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is not involved in the development of parathyroid carcinomas and adenomas.

Hyperparathyroidism 2 gene (HRPT2, CDC73) and parafibromin studies in two patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and uncertain pathological assessment

HRPT2 and parafibromin studies improved the diagnostic accuracy in two patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) referred to us after surgery, in whom the clinical data were at variance with the pathological diagnosis of adenoma and carcinoma, respectively. Patients were referred to us after parathyroidectomy. Patient #1 had had a 1.5-cm tumor easily removed with a histological diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma and normocalcemia for 2 years. Re-examination of the histology showed no cardinal signs of parathyroid cancer. Patient #2, with severe PHPT, had had the removal of a 3.5-cm tumor described histologically as adenoma. Ten years later PHPT recurred and persisted despite removal of two mildly enlarged parathyroid glands that were histologically normal. Re-review of the initial histology showed a trabecular pattern, fibrous bands, and atypical mitoses, suggesting an atypical adenoma. Because of the suspicion that case #1 could be an atypical adenoma and case #2 a carcinoma further molecular studies were performed. No HRPT2 and parafibromin abnormalities were identified in patient #1, strongly indicating a benign lesion. In patient #2, an HRPT2 germline mutation was found (E115X in exon 4) and associated with no parafibromin staining. These data, together with the clinical features, supported the suspicion of a parathyroid carcinoma that was confirmed by histological examination of further slides of the tumor, showing capsular and vascular invasion. A lung 1.5-cm nodule detected by computed tomography was excised. Histology showed a metastasis of parathyroid carcinoma. HRPT2 gene studies improved the diagnostic accuracy in 2 parathyroid tumors that are of uncertain type.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) mutations occur rarely in sporadic parathyroid adenomas.

CONTEXT The molecular pathogenesis of primary hyperparathyroidism is still largely unknown. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene has a major role in the pathogenesis of familial isolated pituitary adenoma. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the involvement of the AIP gene in sporadic parathyroid adenomas. PATIENTS AND DESIGN We performed direct sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analyses of the AIP gene in a large series of sporadic parathyroid adenomas. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the AIP locus was studied, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein immunostaining was also performed. In addition, alterations in the MEN1 gene were studied. RESULTS A somatic AIP mutation, substitution of arginine with glutamine at codon 304 (R304Q), was identified in 2 of 132 tumors. The mutation was germline in both cases despite the nonfamilial presentation. Heterozygous AIP large deletions were detected in 29 cases including 1 of the 2 mutated tumors, confirming a biallelic inactivation of the AIP gene. The AIP-mutated tumor with LOH showed decreased AIP immunostaining compared with normal parathyroid. LOH at the MEN1 locus, which often shared LOH at the AIP locus, was found in one third of tumors. Somatic MEN1 mutations were found in the 1 of the 2 AIP-mutated tumors and in 22 parathyroid adenomas. In addition, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis revealed 1 large deletion of the MEN1 gene in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS The AIP gene is rarely involved in parathyroid adenomas, but the germline nature of the mutations suggests that it might predispose to primary hyperparathyroidism. MEN1 gene alterations occur in a substantial proportion of sporadic parathyroid adenomas.