Research Advances in Pituitary Adenoma and DNA Methylation / 中国医学科学院学报

DNA methylation is closely related to the genesis and development of pituitary adenoma. Studies have shown that high methylation in the promoter region of potassium voltage-gated chanel,shaker related subfamily,beta member 2,O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase,echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 2 ,ras homolog family member D ,homeobox B1 ,NNAT, and P16 inhibits the expression of these genes and regulates of the proliferation of pituitary adenoma. DNA methylation is also closely related to invasive pituitary adenoma. Therefore,further study on molecular mechanism of DNA methylation of pituitary adenoma will offer a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary adenoma.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Pituitary Carcinoma / 中国医学科学院学报

The early diagnosis and treatment of pituitary carcinoma is difficult. The diagnosis is often delayed, and the confirmation of a diagnosis requires the presence of distant subarachnoid,brain or systemic metastasis from the primary pituitary tumor in the sella and also needs the evidences of pathology and imaging of the primary pituitary carcinoma and metastases. Treatment of pituitary carcinoma includes surgery, radiation therapy ,hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and molecularly targeted therapy; however, these methods are mainly palliative and can not prolong the survival. The prognosis remains poor. Efforts should be made to develop more effective diagnosis and treatment options.

Treatment of pituitary adenomas invading cavernous sinus with neuroendoscopy assisted by multiple techniques / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effectiveness of treating giant pituitary adenomas invading cavernous sinus with neuroendoscopy assisted by multiple techniques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 72 patients who underwent neuroendoscopic surgery and 55 patients who underwent microscopic surgery for giant pituitary adenomas were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Both groups received expanded endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach, intraoperative application of navigation, and Doppler.The clinical data of two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two groups were significantly different in total tumor removal rate, operation time, postoperative nasal patency, and postoperative recurrence rate (P=0.004, P=0.0003, P=0.000, and P=0.002, respectively), whereas the cerebrospinal fluid leakage, postoperative diabetes insipidus, and cranial nerve injury were not significantly different (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expanded neuroendoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach assisted by multiple techniques is the preferred surgical method for giant invasive pituitary adenomas invading cavernous sinus.The lateral cavernous sinus approach and the further molecular biology research will bring more options for the treatment of invasive pituitary adenomas.</p>