下垂体腫瘍の分子病理学的メカニズム

Molecular Mechanisms of Pituitary Tumorigenesis

Point

・下垂体腫瘍における分子病理学的メカニズムが解明され，その病理分類は組織学的分類から分子遺伝学的分類にシフトしている．

・下垂体腫瘍治療においても，個々の分子生物学的特徴に基づき薬物治療や集学的治療を行う個別化医療の可能性が示されつつある．

・新たな腫瘍分類の提唱，治療開発がまさに進行しており，脳神経外科医も最新の分子病理学的知識に精通することが求められている．

　Scientific advances have improved our understanding of the molecular pathological mechanisms underlying pituitary tumorigenesis, allowing us to analyze tumors in a more precise manner and to identify the tumors that have a greater risk of aggressive behavior at an earlier stage. Based on these molecular pathological findings, the classification of pituitary tumors has been revised over the last two decades to better describe their biological and clinical behavior and to identify prognostic markers of aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Understanding pituitary tumors at the molecular level has enabled increasingly targeted treatments with safety and efficacy validated in randomized trials. This paper reviews recent advances in the study of pituitary tumors, particularly pituitary endocrine tumors, and craniopharyngiomas, and describes potential therapies for pituitary tumors.