Posterior pituitary tumors: review of histogenetic continuum, molecular drivers and targetable therapies
Authors' conclusion
These genomic and immune discoveries provide a rational for targeted therapy for refractory PPTs.
Study context
- Population
- Posterior pituitary tumors (PPTs): pituicytomas, spindle cell oncocytomas (spindle cell oncocytoma (SCOs)), granular cell tumors (granular cell tumor (GCTs)) and ependymal pituicytomas
- Outcome
- Clinical presentation and treatment
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- PPTs may mimic non-functioning pituitary adenomas or present as suprasellar masses, and can cause neurological and endocrine deficits due to mass effect
- Surgery remains the treatment of choice, with radiotherapy considered for selected patients
Further findings
Chromosomal copy number variations (CNV) and prognostic subtypes
- CNV-negative pituicytomas and SCOs associated with more favorable outcomes than the CNV-positive subtypes, and a third group composed of GCTs that have favorable outcomes
Molecular drivers
- Pituicytomas and SCOs are enriched for pathogenic variants in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K signaling pathways associated with downstream pERK activation, whereas GCTs are characterized by relative genomic stability
Tumor immune microenvironment
- SCOs display an immune-active microenvironment, contrasting with the highly immunosuppressive profile observed in pituicytomas
Original publication
Posterior pituitary tumors: review of histogenetic continuum, molecular drivers and targetable therapies. Pituitary. Published 13 November 2026. doi:10.
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