A second gene may cause a rare brain tumor
Original title: Apc-deficient pituitary stem cells drive adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma through senescence-associated inflammation.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done in animals, not people. Most findings at this stage never become treatments.
This work was done in mice, not in people.
The short version
In mice, switching off one gene caused a tumor like a rare human brain tumor.
What was studied. Scientists worked with mice. They switched off a gene called Apc in stem cells of the pituitary gland.
What they found. The mice grew pituitary tumors. These tumors had all the classic signs of the human tumor called adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. The tumor cells showed signs of aging and inflammation, and the same inflammation pattern was found in human tumor samples.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Most of these tumors come from a change in a gene called CTNNB1. In some people, the cause is still unknown. This work points to the APC gene as another cause. The authors say people with this tumor should get gene testing. They also say people with a bowel condition called familial adenomatous polyposis should be checked for this tumor early in life.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment. The tumors were grown in mice, not in people. It is lab and animal work, far from everyday care. It is not a cure or a promise of one. It does not change the care you get today. Any change to gene testing would need more study in people first.
Source: PubMed, October 9, 2026 · Read the original
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