Stathmin Immunoreactivity in Phaeochromocytomas and Paragangliomas: Differential Expression Between Benign and Malignant Neoplasms

Abstract

This study aimed to assess stathmin expression in benign and malignant phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Tissue specimens from 37 patients with malignant phaeochromocytomas (n = 5), malignant paragangliomas (n = 3), benign phaeochromocytomas (n = 24), and benign paragangliomas (n = 5) were analysed for stathmin expression by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining with polyclonal antibodies. Malignancy was defined by metastases in nonchromaffin tissues. There were higher stathmin expression levels in phaeochromocytomas compared to normal adrenal tissue, by western blotting and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, whereas immunohistochemical staining showed stathmin immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of tumour cells. Malignant neoplasms had significantly higher stathmin expression compared to benign neoplasms by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Malignant phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas have significantly higher levels of stathmin expression compared to benign tumours. The potential value of stathmin in predicting malignancies requires further studies.