• Zhenye Li, Jianhua Li, Xiaosong Shan, Songbai Gui, Chuzhong Li, and Yazhuo Zhang.
• Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Brain Tumor Center, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2021 Sep 1; 153: e20-e27.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and phospho-Smad3 (p-Smad3) in the invasion of somatotropinomas.MethodsIn total, 45 somatotropinomas were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for the first time between 2011 and 2015 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. The expression of TGF-β1, Smad3, and p-Smad3 was examined by western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry in somatotropinomas, and factors correlated with tumor invasion were analyzed.ResultsA total of 13 invasive somatotropinomas and 32 noninvasive somatotropinomas were enrolled in the study. TGF-β1 protein (P < 0.01) and mRNA (P < 0.01) levels were significantly less in the invasive somatotropinomas than noninvasive somatotropinomas. There was no significant difference in Smad3 protein level or Smad3 mRNA level between invasive somatotropinomas and noninvasive somatotropinomas. However, the p-Smad3 protein level was significantly less in the invasive somatotropinomas than noninvasive somatotropinomas (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis demonstrated that TGF-β1 (P < 0.01) and p-Smad3 scores (P < 0.01) were associated with invasion. In multivariate analysis, p-Smad3 scores remained a significantly independent predictor of invasion (odds ratio 0.897, 95% confidence interval 0.834-0.964, P < 0.05).ConclusionsLow expression of p-Smad3 is correlated with invasion of somatotropinomas.Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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