The Dual Roles of Autophagy in Pituitary Adenomas: Current Research Status.

Abstract

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are tumors originating from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Although most are benign, some may exhibit invasive behavior. While surgical treatment is effective in controlling most PAs, it carries inherent risks of complications, some of which may be severe. Consequently, managing PAs remains a significant clinical challenge. Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, plays a pivotal role in tumor biology and is frequently activated in response to stimuli such as nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, or mitochondrial dysfunction. Autophagy's role in tumors is complex, exhibiting both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing effects, which are context-dependent and vary across different stages of development. Recent studies on autophagy in PAs have gained considerable attention. This article describes the process of autophagy and its main signaling pathways, summarizes the research progress of autophagy in PAs, analyzes the potential therapeutic potential of targeting autophagy in PAs, and provides new directions for the treatment of PAs.