Expression of D2RmRNA isoforms and ERmRNA isoforms in prolactinomas: correlation with the response to bromocriptine and with tumor biological behavior

Invasive prolactinomas are more likely to be resistant to drug therapy but the mechanism of this is still unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the different expression of ERmRNA and D2RmRNA isoforms in prolactinomas responsive and resistant to dopamine agonist (DA), and to discuss the correlation of such gene expression with tumor biological behavior. A prospective study of 20 consecutive patients who harbored prolactinomas was designed. Patients were classified as responsive (14 cases) or resistant (six cases) according to their clinical and biochemical response to bromocriptine. Tumor tissue samples were examined by means of QRT–PCR analysis. Median D2SmRNA expression in responsive patients was about 2.5-fold that in resistant ones (13.5 ± 10.4 and 5.4 ± 2.4, respectively, P = 0.09). No significant difference was found between D2LmRNA expression levels (P = 0.77). However, there was a significant difference between D2S/D2LmRNA ratios for responsive and resistant tumors (P = 0.012). A significant difference was not found between these two groups in levels of ERαmRNA and ERβmRNA expression (P = 0.20 and 0.06, respectively). D2SmRNA expression was significantly different for invasive and noninvasive tumors (6.2 ± 3.6 vs. 17.0 ± 11.2, respectively, P = 0.02). The D2S/D2L ratio is related to the responsiveness of prolactinomas to DA medication, in which D2SmRNA plays an important role. Lower expression of D2SmRNA in invasive tumor patients suggests that invasive prolactinomas may be more likely to be resistant to DA medication.