ea0022p584 | Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary (<emphasis role="italic">Generously supported by Novartis</emphasis>) | ECE2010
Rubinfeld Hadara
, Ilan Neta
, Nass Dvora
, Cohen-Kaplan Victoria
, Pappo Orit
, Hadani Moshe
, Vlodavsky Israel
, Shimon Ilan
Background: Pituitary adenomas are monoclonal neoplasms that may be either functional (hormone-secreting) or non-functional. The processes associated with pituitary tumor development and progression are mostly unknown. Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion were suggested to be involved in pituitary tumorigenesis. Heparanase, an endoglycosidase capable of degrading heparan sulfate, the main polysaccharide constituent of the ECM, is implicated in diverse...