Single Cell Metabolic Landscape of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumor Subgroups and Lineages

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are common intracranial tumors comprising numerous subtypes whose metabolic profiles have yet to be fully examined. The present in silico study analyzed single-cell expression profiles from 2311 PitNET cells from various lineages and subtypes to elucidate differences in metabolic activities. Gonadotroph tumors exhibited high activities with histidine metabolism, whose activity is low in lactotroph tumors. Somatotroph tumors enriched for sulfur and tyrosine metabolism, while lactotroph tumors were enriched metabolism of nitrogen, ascorbate, and aldarate. PIT-1 lineage tumors exhibited high sulfur and thiamine metabolism. These results set precedence for further translational studies for subgroup/lineage specific targeted therapies.