Dopamine receptor expression predicts cabergoline response in persistent somatotroph adenoma
Authors' conclusion
D2 receptor profiling of growth hormone secreting pituitary tumors and post-operative IGF-1 level at 3 months are helpful to predict response to medical treatment with cabergoline.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with somatotropinomas with persistent disease after surgery, treated with cabergoline
- Participants
- 30 patients
- Exposure
- D2R expression vs remission with cabergoline
- Outcome
- Relation between density of D2R expression and remission with cabergoline
Methodological detailsimmunohistochemistry and qPCR on archived specimens
- Immunohistochemistry and qPCR on archived specimens
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
D2R ΔΔCT of 19.2 predicting remission with cabergoline (ROC analysis)
Sensitivity
71%
Specificity
74%
AUC
0.745
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Remission (normalization of IGF-1 or GH < 1ng/ml) with cabergoline
- Achieved remission
- 23% (7/30)
- Median (range) duration of cabergoline therapy
- 20(6-72) months
Receptor expression
- D2R predominantly expressed, followed by SSTR2 and SSTR5
Baseline IGF-1 and remission
- Baseline IGF-1 < 1.5 times upper limit of normal more likely to achieve remission
Original publication
Dopamine receptor expression predicts cabergoline response in persistent somatotroph adenoma. Pituitary. Published 23 July 2025. doi:10.
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