Overexpression of DNA (Cytosine-5)-Methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) And DNA (Cytosine-5)-Methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) Is Associated with Aggressive Behavior and Hypermethylation of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Human Pituitary Adenomas

Background: Alteration of DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is one of the most consistent epigenetic changes in human cancers. DNMT5 play several important roles in DNA methylation and development of cancers. Regarding DNMT5 protein expressions, little is known about the clinical significance and correlation with promoter methylation status of TSGs in human pituitary adenomas. Material/Methods: We analyzed the protein expression of 3 DNMT5 using immunohistochemistry and assessed DNA hypermethylation of RASSF1A,CDH13,CDH1, and CDKN2A (p16) in 63 pituitary adenomas. We examined associations between DNMT5 expression and clinicopathological features or promoter methylation status of TSGs. Results: Overexpression of DNMT5 was detected in pituitary adenomas. Frequencies of DNMT1 overexpression were significantly higher in macroadenomas, invasive tumors, and grade III and IV tumors. DNMT3A was frequently detected in invasive tumors and grade IV tumors. In addition, DNMT1 and DNMT3A were frequently detected in high-methylation tumors. Furthermore, in multivariate logistic regression, the significant association between DNMT1 or DNMT3A and high-methylation status persisted after adjusting for clinicopathological features. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that tumor overexpression of DNMT1 and DNMT3A is associated with tumor aggressive behavior and high-methylation status in pituitary adenomas. Our data support a possible role of DNMT1 and DNMT3A in TSG promoter methylation leading to pituitary adenoma invasion and suggest that inhibition of DNMT5 has the potential to become a new therapeutic approach for invasive pituitary adenoma.