AUTHOR=Syro Luis V. , Rotondo Fabio , Camargo Mauricio , Ortiz Leon D. , Serna Carlos A. , Kovacs Kalman 

TITLE=Temozolomide and Pituitary Tumors: Current Understanding, Unresolved Issues, and Future Directions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00318

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2018.00318

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>Temozolomide, an alkylating agent, initially used in the treatment of gliomas was expanded to include pituitary tumors in 2006. After 12 years of use, temozolomide has shown a notable advancement in pituitary tumor treatment with a remarkable improvement rate in the 5-year overall survival and 5-year progression-free survival in both aggressive pituitary adenomas and pituitary carcinomas. In this paper, we review the mechanism of action of temozolomide as alkylating agent, its interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid repair systems, therapeutic effects in pituitary tumors, unresolved issues, and future directions relating to new possibilities of targeted therapy.</p>