Abstract
Pituitary tumours, the most frequent intracranial tumour, are historically considered benign. However, various pieces of clinical evidence and recent advances in pathological and molecular analyses suggest the need to consider these tumours as more than an endocrinological disease, despite the low incidence of metastasis. Recently, we proposed a new prognostic clinicopathological classification of these pituitary tumours, according to the tumour size (micro, macro and giant), type (prolactin, GH, FSH/LH, ACTH and TSH) and grade (grade 1a, non-invasive; 1b, non-invasive and proliferative; 2a, invasive; 2b, invasive and proliferative and 3, metastatic). In addition to this classification, numerous molecular prognostic markers have been identified, allowing a better characterisation of tumour behaviour and prognosis. Moreover, clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that pituitary tumours could be treated by some chemotherapeutic drugs or new targeted therapies. Our improved classification of these tumours should now allow the identification of prognosis markers and help the clinician to propose personalised therapies to selected patients presenting tumours with a high risk of recurrence.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / drug therapy
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ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / metabolism
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ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / pathology
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Adenoma / drug therapy
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Adenoma / metabolism*
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Adenoma / pathology
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
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Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
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Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
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Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives
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Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
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Follicle Stimulating Hormone / metabolism
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Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / drug therapy
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Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / metabolism
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Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / pathology
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Human Growth Hormone / metabolism
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Humans
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Luteinizing Hormone / metabolism
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Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / metabolism*
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Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
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Prognosis
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Prolactin / metabolism
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Prolactinoma / drug therapy
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Prolactinoma / metabolism
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Prolactinoma / pathology
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Temozolomide
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Thyrotropin / metabolism
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
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Human Growth Hormone
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Dacarbazine
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
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Prolactin
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Luteinizing Hormone
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Follicle Stimulating Hormone
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Thyrotropin
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Temozolomide