{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T16:48:24Z","timestamp":1790354904586,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]],"date-time":"2021-07-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1626048000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Endocrinol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (PRL-omas) are generally benign neoplasia. However, a percentage of cases show aggressive behavior. Prognostic markers may allow for the identification of aggressive cases. In this study, we investigated the prognostic role of galectin-3 and the estrogen receptor alpha (ER\u03b1), as predictive biomarkers of aggressiveness and poor prognosis.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Patients and Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A mono-centric and retrospective study was conducted on consecutive cases of PRL-omas that underwent first line treatment with surgery and were followed-up for at least five years. The immunohistochemical expression of ER\u03b1 and galectin-3 was investigated in each case.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>36 patients were enrolled. Galectin-3 resulted positive in 11 patients (30.6%). The median expression of ER\u03b1 was 85% (IQR: 37). Among the group of 21 patients who underwent radical surgery (58.3%), recurrence occurred in 12 cases (33.3%). 27 patients were treated post-surgery with a dopamine agonist (DA) (12 for recurrence and 22 for a history of partial surgery). 13 patients (48.1%) were responsive to DA. Six of 11 cases positive for galactin-3 underwent partial surgery (54.5%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Recurrence occurred in all five cases that underwent radical surgery, which were also positive for galectin-3 (p=0.03). Galectin-3 resulted positive in 9 patients resistant to DA treatment (81.1%, p=0.01). ER\u03b1 expression was lower in tumors positive for galectin-3 (p&amp;lt;0.001), with mitotic activity (p=0.012), with higher Ki67 Li (p&amp;lt;0.001), and in males with post-surgical recurrence (p&amp;lt;0.001).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Galectin-3 and ER\u03b1 play as markers of aggressiveness and prognosis in PRL-omas and may be tested to identify the aggressive forms of the disease.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2021.684055","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]],"date-time":"2021-07-12T10:26:55Z","timestamp":1626085615000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Galectin-3 and Estrogen Receptor Alpha as Prognostic Markers in Prolactinoma: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Chiara","family":"Bima","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sabrina","family":"Chiloiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonella","family":"Giampietro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Gessi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pier Paolo","family":"Mattogno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liverana","family":"Lauretti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carmelo","family":"Anile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guido","family":"Rindi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alfredo","family":"Pontecorvi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"De Marinis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Bianchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beem.2019.101290","article-title":"The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Prolactinomas: The Old and the New","volume":"33","author":"Chanson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000499382","article-title":"Clinical, Pathological, and Molecular Factors of Aggressiveness in Lactotroph Tumours","volume":"109","author":"Trouillas","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11102-019-01000-7","article-title":"Aggressive Prolactinomas: How to Manage","volume":"23","author":"Lasolle","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1530\/EJE-17-0933","article-title":"Treatment of Aggressive Pituitary Tumours and Carcinomas: Results of a European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) Survey 2016","volume":"178","author":"McCormack","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/a:1009903603495","article-title":"Estrogen Receptors in Prolactinomas: A Clinico-Pathological Study","volume":"1","author":"Kaptain","year":"1999","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"B6","first-page":"59","article-title":"Comparative Immunohistochemical Analysis of Estrogen Receptors and Chromogranin A Reactivity in Plurihormonal Human Prolactinomas","volume":"54","author":"Talan-Hranilovi\u0107","year":"2000","journal-title":"Acta Med Croatica"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1530\/EJE-14-0990","article-title":"Expression of Estrogen Receptor Alpha is Associated With Prolactin Pituitary Tumor Prognosis and Support the Sex-Related Difference in Tumor Growth","volume":"172","author":"Delgrange","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2020.00439","article-title":"Prolactinomas: Prognostic Factors of Early Remission After Transsphenoidal Surgery","volume":"11","author":"Zielinski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"B9","article-title":"Expression of Galectin-3 in Invasive Prolactinomas","volume":"27","author":"Wang","year":"2005","journal-title":"Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.humpath.2013.05.020","article-title":"Galectin-3 Expression in Pituitary Adenomas as a Marker of Aggressive Behavior","volume":"44","author":"Righi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Hum Pathol"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMcp0912025","article-title":"Clinical Practice. Prolactinomas","volume":"362","author":"Klibanski","year":"2010","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2010-1692","article-title":"Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline","volume":"96","author":"Melmed","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2010.04.026","article-title":"Identification and Consequences of Galectin-3 Expression in Pituitary Tumors","volume":"326","author":"Righi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mol Cell Endocrinol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-008-9129-z","article-title":"RUNX1 and RUNX2 Upregulate Galectin-3 Expression in Human Pituitary Tumors","volume":"35","author":"Zhang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Endocrine"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4065\/73.11.1046","article-title":"Prolactinomas in Male and Female Patients: A Comparative Clinicopathologic Study","volume":"73","author":"Calle-Rodrigue","year":"1998","journal-title":"Mayo Clin Proc"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2008-1065338","article-title":"Estrogen Receptors in Human Pituitary Tumors","volume":"40","author":"Burdman","year":"2008","journal-title":"Hormone Metab Res"},{"key":"B17","article-title":"Estrogen Receptor Alpha and Beta Immunohistochemical Expression: Clinicopathological Correlations in Pituitary Adenomas","volume":"30","author":"Manoranjan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Anticancer Res"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2005.04.008","article-title":"Differential Effects of Estrogen Receptor Antagonists on Pituitary Lactotroph Proliferation and Prolactin Release","volume":"239","author":"Kansra","year":"2005","journal-title":"Mol Cell Endocrinol"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1042\/BSR20191330","article-title":"17\u03b2-Estradiol Binding to Er\u03b1 Promotes the Progression of Prolactinoma Through Estrogen-Response Element-Induced CaBP-9k Up-Regulation","volume":"40","author":"Liu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biosci Rep"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem.82.7.4088","article-title":"Sex-Related Difference in the Growth of Prolactinomas: A Clinical and Proliferation Marker Study","volume":"82","author":"Delgrange","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00701-005-0498-2","article-title":"Clinical and Histological Correlation in Prolactinoma, With Special Reference to Bromocriptine Resistance","volume":"147","author":"Delgrange","year":"2005","journal-title":"Acta Neurochir"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00401-013-1084-y","article-title":"A New Prognostic Clinicopathological Classification of Pituitary Adenomas: A Multicentric Case-Control Study of 410 Patients With 8 Years Post-Operative Follow-Up","volume":"126","author":"Trouillas","year":"2013","journal-title":"Acta Neuropathol"},{"key":"B23","volume-title":"WHO Classification of Tumours of Endocrine Organs","author":"Lloyd","year":"2017"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11102-013-0500-6","article-title":"Radically Resected Pituitary Adenomas: Prognostic Role of Ki 67 Labeling Index in a Monocentric Retrospective Series and Literature Review","volume":"17","author":"Chiloiro","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1080\/17446651.2018.1411798","article-title":"Medical Versus Surgical Treatment of Prolactinoma: An Analysis of Treatment Outcomes","volume":"13","author":"Rutkowski","year":"2018","journal-title":"Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem.84.9.5962","article-title":"Quantitative and Functional Expression of Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes in Human Prolactinomas","volume":"84","author":"Jaquet","year":"1999","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"595","DOI":"10.1530\/EJE-07-0806","article-title":"Somatostatinergic Ligands in Dopamine-Sensitive and -Resistant Prolactinomas","volume":"158","author":"Fusco","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11102-008-0162-y","article-title":"Efficacy of the Combined Cabergoline and Octreotide Treatment in a Case of a Dopamine-Agonist Resistant Macroprolactinoma","volume":"14","author":"Fusco","year":"2011","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-017-1486-z","article-title":"Use of 111In-Pentetreotide Scintigraphy for Diagnosis and Management of Resistant Macroprolactinoma","volume":"60","author":"Del Gatto","year":"2018","journal-title":"Endocrine"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-018-1638-9","article-title":"Treatment of Multiresistant Prolactinomas With a Combination of Cabergoline and Octreotide LAR","volume":"61","author":"Sosa-Eroza","year":"2018","journal-title":"Endocrine"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Endocrinology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2021.684055\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]],"date-time":"2021-07-12T10:27:05Z","timestamp":1626085625000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2021.684055\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]]},"references-count":30,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fendo.2021.684055"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fendo.2021.684055","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-2392"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-2392","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,12]]},"article-number":"684055"}}