Aggressive pituitary neuroendocrine tumors display a distinct immune microenvironment
Authors' conclusion
Aggressive PitNETs display a distinct tumour microenvironment characterised by increased immune cell infiltrate.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent surgical resection of aggressive and non-aggressive pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs)
- Participants
- 48 PitNET samples
- Exposure
- Aggressive vs non-aggressive PitNETs
- Aggressive PitNETs (APT)n = 12
- Outcome
- Tumour immune microenvironment
Methodological detailsImmunohistochemistry for immune cells, immune checkpoints, cell cycle and senescence markers; multiplex immunoassay for cytokines and chemokines
- Immunohistochemistry for immune cells, immune checkpoints, cell cycle and senescence markers; multiplex immunoassay for cytokines and chemokines
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- APTs vs non-APTs: higher CD3 T lymphocyte and CD163 macrophage infiltrate, lower expression of IFN-γ and PDGFAA
- Also observed in aggressive Pit1 PitNETs vs SF1 PitNETs
- Aggressive and non-aggressive Pit1 PitNETs vs SF1 PitNETs: increased PDL1 and senescence markers p16 and p21
- Pit1 and TPit PitNETs more likely to show perivascular immune cell infiltrate than SF1 PitNETs
- MIG, MIP1β and IL1RA positively correlated with T lymphocytes, dendritic cells and CD163 macrophages
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Associations with outcome
- Died from pituitary disease
- 3
- Increased CD163 associated with tumour recurrence
- Increased IL8 and TGFβ associated with death from pituitary disease
Original publication
Aggressive pituitary neuroendocrine tumors display a distinct immune microenvironment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 30 July 2026. doi:10.
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