Malignant transformation of endometriosis and genetic alterations of K-ras and microsatellite instability.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the role of specific genetic alterations in the multi-step process of malignant transformation of endometriosis.


METHODS
In cases of ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, we separated regions of normal endometriosis, atypical endometriosis and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma by laser microdissection, and examined K-ras mutation and microsatellite instability in each separated tissue sample.


RESULTS
We detected K-ras mutation and microsatellite instability in endometrioid carcinoma tissue, but not in normal or atypical endometriosis bordering the cancerous region.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that K-ras mutation and microsatellite instability are associated with malignant transformation from atypical endometriosis to ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
S
S
Amemiya
A
A
Sekizawa
J
J
Otsuka
T
T
Tachikawa
H
H
Saito
T
T
Okai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery