Immunohistochemical detection of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in neuroendocrine tumours

Abstract

Introduction: Follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR) are well known to be expressed in gonads and in gonadal tumours. Recently, their incidence has also been revealed in endocrine non-gonadal tumours such as adrenal and pituitary tumours. Moreover, FSHR immunostaining has also been reported in endothelium of intra-and peritumoral blood vessels of a large series of cancers. The present paper reports on the incidence of FSHR in both tumoral cells and some intratumoral blood vessels of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Material and methods: Sixteen NETs samples were taken from 14 patients. The tumour samples were immunostained using the antibody raised against 1-190 amino acid sequence from the human FSH-R and anti-Ki67 antibody. Results: In all the samples examined, the majority of tumoral cells were immunostained with anti-FSHR antibody. Positive immunostaining concerned also the intratumoral blood vessels endothelia in a half of the examined samples. Immunopositive blood vessels were found more often in tumours with higher Ki-67 index.

Direct actions of gonadotropins beyond the reproductive system and their role in human aging and neoplasia [Bezpośrednie działanie gonadotropin poza układem rozrodczym i ich rola w starzeniu się i nowotworzeniu u człowieka]

“…In contrast, the non-tumoural blood vessels (with the exception of the vasculature in the reproductive organs and umbilical veins) do not contain FSHR protein. This observation was confirmed soon after by other authors [19,[51][52][53]. It seems reasonable to suppose that FSHR-positive blood vessels represent the vasculature formed through tumoral neo-angiogenesis, and like in their classical targets, i.e.…”

“…the reproductive organs, are involved in the neo-angiogenesis process [54]. FSHR were also demonstrated by means of immunohistochemistry in tumoural cells, mostly in tumours of endocrine origin [19,[51][52][53]55]. However, in contrast to the expression of FSHR in tumoural cells of the gonadal [18,56] and prostatic tumours [57,58], which is well established, their occurrence in tumoural cells beyond the reproductive system is still controversial.…”

Ekspresja receptorów folitropiny w gruczolakach przysadki — marker agresywności guza?

“…Recent studies have revealed the ectopic expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR) in the endothelium of intra-and peritumoural blood vessels of several human neoplasms [1][2][3][4]. Moreover, in some tumours, like adrenal tumours [2], thyroid cancers [4], neuroendocrine tumours [3,5], and soft tissue sarcomas [6], the expression of FSHR occurs also in tumoural cells.…”

“…Moreover, in some tumours, like adrenal tumours [2], thyroid cancers [4], neuroendocrine tumours [3,5], and soft tissue sarcomas [6], the expression of FSHR occurs also in tumoural cells. In our earlier study, we found also FSHR expression in the majority of pituitary adenomas [2].…”

Expression and localization of follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor in the yak uterus during different stages of the oestrous cycle

“…There is an increasing evidence to show that FSH receptors are expressed in many extragonadal tissues, such as fallopian tubes (Zheng, Magid, Kramer, & Chen, ), pituitary gland (Wang et al, ), urinary bladder and urethra (Ponglowhapan, Church, & Khalid, ), cervix (Leethongdee, Khalid, & Scaramuzzi, ), umbilical cord and placenta (Stilley, Christensen, et al, ). Follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is also expressed in osteoclasts where FSH signalling mediates bone resorption (Zhu et al, ), and in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) where its role has not yet been elucidated (Pawlikowski, Winczyk, & Stępień, ). Recently, LiangChen, Liu, and Zhou () demonstrated that FSHR expressed in the porcine uterus with differences according to the stage of the oestrous cycle.…”