Selective molecular biomarkers to predict biologic behavior in pituitary tumors

ABSTRACT

Introduction: To date, several cell proliferation markers, apoptosis, vascular markers, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, cell cycle mediators, microRNA (miRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be involved in the tumorigenesis, migration, proliferation and invasiveness of pituitary adenomas. There are still no reliable morphologic markers predictive of pituitary adenoma recurrence. Recent scientific research introduced new techniques to enable us to attain new information on the genesis and biologic behavior of pituitary adenomas.

Areas covered: This review covers selected, compelling and cumulative information in regards to TACSTD family (EpCAM, TROP2), neuropilin (NRP-1), oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), fascins (FSCN1), invasion-associated genes (CLDN7, CNTNAP2, ITGA6, JAM3, PTPRC and CTNNA1) EZH2, and ENC1 genes and endocan.

Expert commentary: Ongoing research provides clinicians, surgeons and researchers with new information not only on diverse pathways in tumorigenesis but also on the clinical aggressive behavior of pituitary adenomas. Newly developed molecular techniques, bioinformatics and new pharmaceutical drug options are helpful tools to widen the perspectives in our understanding of the complex nature of pituitary tumorigenesis. The discovery of new molecular biomarkers can only be accomplished by continuing to investigate pituitary embryogenesis, histogenesis and tumorigenesis.

KEYWORDS:

• ENC1 gene
• endocan
• EZH2
• FSCN1
• invasion-associated genes
• molecular biomarkers
• neuropilin (NRP-1)
• oncogene-induced senescence
• pituitary adenoma
• TACSTD family (EpCAM
• TROP2)

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to the Jarislowsky and Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundations for their generous support.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultations, honorariums, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.