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.
垂体肿瘤起源于垂体，根据其激素分泌情况可分为功能性和非功能性。既往研究表明，细胞自噬等关键细胞循环机制的障碍与垂体肿瘤发生及激素失调密切相关。本文全面探讨了自噬与垂体肿瘤之间复杂的关系。我们深入分析了自噬在癌症中的多重作用，指出其在不同情境下既可发挥抑癌功能又可促进肿瘤发展的双重特性。同时系统阐述了巨自噬、线粒体自噬、分泌自噬等具体自噬机制及其与垂体肿瘤发生和激素调控的关联。此外，我们综合评估了当前关于促进自噬与抑制自噬两类治疗策略对垂体肿瘤细胞影响的研究进展，并探讨了自噬活性解读及其与激素分泌复杂相互作用的现存挑战。现有证据表明靶向自噬可能成为垂体肿瘤的治疗新方向，未来需通过进一步研究和临床试验来确定个体化最佳治疗策略，以改善患者长期预后。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家