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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
07:43

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Genetic aspects of pituitary tumors

A Spada1

  • 1Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, University of Milan, Italy. anna.spada@unimi.it

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|April 20, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Pituitary adenomas involve oncogene activation, like the gsp oncogene in GH-secreting tumors, and potential antioncogene underactivity. These genetic factors drive tumor growth and hormone overproduction.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Pituitary adenomas originate from single mutated cells with growth advantages.
  • Genetic alterations, including oncogene activation and antioncogene inactivation, are implicated in tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of oncogenes and antioncogenes in the development of pituitary adenomas.
  • To identify specific genetic mutations and molecular pathways contributing to pituitary tumor formation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of oncogene mutations, focusing on the gsp oncogene.
  • Examination of gene and protein expression related to cell proliferation and tumor suppression.

Main Results:

  • The gsp oncogene mutation was identified in 30-40% of GH-secreting adenomas, leading to hormone hypersecretion.
  • Overexpression of cell proliferation genes (e.g., immediate early genes, growth factors) was observed in other pituitary tumor types.
  • Low levels of antioncogene proteins suggest a potential role in pituitary tumorigenesis, despite the absence of inactivating mutations.

Conclusions:

  • The gsp oncogene is a key driver in a subset of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas.
  • Altered expression of proliferation-related genes and potential antioncogene dysfunction contribute to pituitary adenoma development.

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