Yin Evan, Satou Motoyasu, Tateno Toru
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada.
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
Cancers (Basel). 2025 Apr 23;17(9):1402. doi: 10.3390/cancers17091402.
Pituitary tumors, arising from the pituitary gland, can be classified as functioning or non-functioning based on their hormone production. Previous studies demonstrated that impairment of cellular processes, such as autophagy, a crucial cellular recycling mechanism, has been implicated in pituitary tumorigenesis and hormone dysregulation. This review comprehensively examines the intricate relationship between autophagy and pituitary tumors. We explore the multifaceted role of autophagy in cancer, highlighting its dual nature as both a tumor suppressor and a promoter depending on the context. We also discuss the specific mechanisms of autophagy, including macroautophagy, mitophagy, crinophagy, and their relevance to pituitary tumorigenesis and hormone regulation. Furthermore, we analyze the current literature regarding the impact of various therapeutic interventions in pituitary tumor cells, with both autophagy-promoting and autophagy-inhibiting strategies. We address the challenges in interpreting autophagy activity and its complex interplay with hormone production. Current evidence suggests the potential of targeting autophagy as a therapeutic approach for pituitary tumors, emphasizing further research and clinical trials to determine the optimal strategy for individual patients and improve long-term outcomes.
垂体瘤起源于垂体，可根据其激素分泌情况分为功能性或无功能性。以往研究表明，细胞过程的损伤，如自噬（一种关键的细胞循环机制），与垂体瘤发生和激素失调有关。本综述全面探讨了自噬与垂体瘤之间的复杂关系。我们探究了自噬在癌症中的多方面作用，强调其根据具体情况既作为肿瘤抑制因子又作为促进因子的双重性质。我们还讨论了自噬的具体机制，包括巨自噬、线粒体自噬、分泌自噬，以及它们与垂体瘤发生和激素调节的相关性。此外，我们分析了当前有关各种治疗干预对垂体瘤细胞影响的文献，包括促进自噬和抑制自噬的策略。我们阐述了解释自噬活性及其与激素分泌复杂相互作用方面的挑战。目前的证据表明，将自噬作为垂体瘤治疗方法具有潜力，强调需要进一步研究和开展临床试验，以确定针对个体患者的最佳策略并改善长期疗效。
