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Updated: May 22, 2026

Heat-Induced Antigen Retrieval: An Effective Method to Detect and Identify Progenitor Cell Types during Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Published on: August 30, 2013
Neuron precursor features of spindle cell oncocytoma of adenohypophysis
Sanda Alexandrescu1, Robert E Brown, Nitin Tandon
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston, School of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. sanda.alexandrescu@uth.tmc.edu
Context:
Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis (SCO) is a non-endocrine neoplasm with few recurrent forms described. It arises from the folliculo-stellate cells of the adenohypophysis.
Objective:
We describe a case of SCO in a 24-year-old woman and provide pathogenetic information.
Design:
Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), and immunohistochemistry, with controls, for S100, SMI-311, neurofilament, EMA, CD68, GFAP, chromogranin, synaptophysin, and Ki67 were performed. CD44, nestin, Gli2, p-Akt(Ser 473) and p-mTOR(Ser 2448) antibodies were applied, and each analyte's cellular distribution and intensity were noted.
Results:
H&E showed a proliferation of spindle and polygonal cells with a fascicular pattern, without mitoses. There was reactivity for SMI-311, CD44, nestin, S100, EMA, and vimentin. Neurofilament, CD68, chromogranin, synaptophysin, and GFAP were not expressed. p-Akt and p-mTOR were expressed suggesting mTORC2. Gli2 showed nuclear expression in the tumoral cells.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that SCO has neuron-like precursor cells. Sonic hedgehog and mTOR pathways are activated.
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