Research progress of the pathogenesis of NFPA and the tumorigenicity of COX-2

Non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA), lack of the clinical and biochemical characteristics of hormone overexpression, is a common type of pituitary adenoma. It could bring enormous suffering to the patients on account of the tendentiousness of being invasive macroadenoma and oppressing surrounding tissue. At present, the pathogenesis of NFPA is still unclear, thus there is no effective medical management for the disease. Although transsphenoidal surgery is the first-line treatment for NFPA, it is very difficult to achieve a cure effect. It has been found that the abnormal expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) affects the survival and progression of cancer. Recent studies have detected the expression of COX-2 in pituitary tumors, and the expression of COX-2 in NFPA is stronger, suggesting that COX-2 may be involved in the occurrence and development of NFPA. This article reviews the pathogenesis of NFPA and the tumorigenicity of COX-2, and provides new ideas for clinical drug treatment of NFPA. Key words: Cyclooxygenase 2; Non-functioning pituitary adenoma; Pituitary neoplasms; Review