A clinicopathological study of non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours using the World Health Organization 2022 classification

• Published in: Frontiers in endocrinology (Lausanne) Vol. 15; p. 1368944
• Main Authors: Woo, Chariene Shao-Lin, Ho, Ronnie Siu-Lun, Ho, Grace, Lau, Hoi-To, Fong, Carol Ho-Yi, Chang, Johnny Yau-Cheung, Leung, Eunice Ka-Hong, Tang, Lawrence Chi-Kin, Ma, Ivan Kwok-Ming, Lee, Alan Chun-Hong, Lui, David Tak-Wai, Woo, Yu-Cho, Chow, Wing-Sun, Leung, Gilberto Ka-Kit, Tan, Kathryn Choon-Beng, Lam, Karen Siu-Ling, Lee, Chi-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 02-05-2024
• Subjects: 2022 WHO classification; Adult; Aged; Endocrinology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroendocrine Tumors - classification; Neuroendocrine Tumors - metabolism; Neuroendocrine Tumors - pathology; non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours; PitNET classification; pituitary adenoma; Pituitary Neoplasms - classification; Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Prognosis; T-Box Domain Proteins - metabolism; transcription factors; World Health Organization; Young Adult; 2022 WHO classification; pituitary adenoma; PitNET classification; non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours; transcription factors
• ISSN: 1664-2392; 1664-2392
• DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1368944

The 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pituitary neuroendocrine tumour (PitNET) supersedes the previous one in 2017 and further consolidates the role of transcription factors (TF) in the diagnosis of PitNET. Here, we investigated the clinical utility of the 2022 WHO classification, as compared to that of 2017, in a cohort of patients with non-functioning PitNET (NF-PitNET).
A total of 113 NF-PitNET patients who underwent resection between 2010 and 2021, and had follow-up at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, were recruited. Surgical specimens were re-stained for the three TF: steroidogenic factor (SF-1), T-box family member TBX19 (TPIT) and POU class 1 homeobox 1 (Pit-1). The associations of different NF-PitNET subtypes with tumour-related outcomes were evaluated by logistic and Cox regression analyses.
Based on the 2022 WHO classification, the majority of NF-PitNET was SF-1-lineage tumours (58.4%), followed by TPIT-lineage tumours (18.6%), tumours with no distinct lineage (16.8%) and Pit-1-lineage tumours (6.2%). Despite fewer entities than the 2017 classification, significant differences in disease-free survival were present amongst these four subtypes (Log-rank test p=0.003), specifically between SF-1-lineage PitNET and PitNET without distinct lineage (Log-rank test p<0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the subtype of PitNET without distinct lineage (HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.28-7.16, p=0.012), together with tumour volume (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p=0.017), were independent predictors of a composite of residual or recurrent disease.
The 2022 WHO classification of PitNET is a clinically useful TF and lineage-based system for subtyping NF-PitNET with different tumour behaviour and prognosis.