Etiology of pituitary acromegaly

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1992 Sep;21(3):539-51.

Abstract

Pituitary tumors secreting growth hormone are clonal neoplasms that may arise following a somatic mutation within the somatotroph cell. Promotion of tumor growth also appears to be regulated by hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone, which exerts a trophic action on the pituitary cell. Unraveling the mechanisms of pituitary tumorigenesis will facilitate the application of novel therapeutic techniques, genetic screening, and follow-up of tumor responses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / etiology*
  • Adenoma / complications*
  • Adenoma / genetics
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamus / physiopathology
  • Oncogenes
  • Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / metabolism
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / physiopathology

Substances

  • Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
  • Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone