Molecular genetics and endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer is the ninth most common malignancy in females. Inherited forms of this malignancy exist. Mutations in mismatch repair genes result in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, which confers a lifetime risk of bowel cancer between 60-80% and an endometrial cancer risk of up to 60%. Current screening involves the use of transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy. Genetic testing for mutations in the mismatch repair genes is available, and if a pathogenic change is found within a family, predictive testing becomes available for unaffected family members. If blood samples from family members are unavailable, tumour blocks may be studied to assess microsatellite instability, a feature of mismatch repair gene mutations. While mutations in the mismatch repair genes are found in inherited endometrial cancer they are rarely seen in sporadic cancers. However, there are a range of somatic gene mutations that are currently being studied in order to provide insight into the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer.
Lalloo
F
F
Department of Clinical Genetics, St Mary's Hospital, Hathersage Rd, Manchester, M13 0JH, UK.
Evans
G
G
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; C446603:TPTE protein, human; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein