Molecular Pathology of Pituitary Adenomas

The pituitary gland is an important one since it controls several of the other hormone glands such as the thyroid and adrenals. A pituitary adenoma is an abnormal growth, or tumor in this gland and they are the subject of very active clinical and pathological research. This book examines the latest developments in this field and discusses the most important molecules implicated in apoptosis, angiogenesis and signal transduction. A good understanding of these processes is needed in order to identify the best therapies. By Cristiana Tanase, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania; Irina Ogrezeanu, "D. Bagdasar" Hospital, Bucharest, Romania and Corin Badiu, "C.Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania Table of Contents: 1. Pituitary tumor classification: functionality, invasiveness, aggressiveness Irina Ogrezeanu, Corin Badiu, Cristiana Tanase, Alina Neagoe 2. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy as evaluation criteria in tumour classification in the deciphering of pituitary adenomas Corin Badiu, Irina Ogrezeanu, Cristiana Tanase 3. Proliferation Cristiana Tanase and Radu Albulescu 4. Angiogenesis Cristiana Tanase, Elena Codrici, Irina Radu, Simona Mihai 5. Apoptosis Cristiana Tanase, Radu Albulescu 6. Signal transduction Cristiana Tanase, Monica Neagu, Radu Albulescu, Linda Maria Cruceru, Adrian Popa 7. Stem cells markers in pituitary adenomas Corin Badiu, Cristiana Tanase, Linda Maria Cruceru 8. microRNAs Cristiana Tanase, Radu Albulescu, Lucian Albulescu 9. New generic tools for diagnosis: genomics, proteomics Cristiana Tanase, Radu Albulescu, Ionela Daniela Popescu 10. Therapeutic approach: drug, surgical and radiotherapy Cristiana Tanase, Irina Ogrezeanu