title: Molecular and pathologic aspects of endometrial carcinogenesis.
abstract: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy, with 41,000 new cases projected in the United States for 2006. Two different clinicopathologic subtypes are recognized: the estrogen-related (type I, endometrioid) and the non-estrogen-related types (type II, nonendometrioid such as papillary serous and clear cell). The morphologic differences in these cancers are mirrored in their molecular genetic profile with type I showing defects in DNA-mismatch repair and mutations in PTEN, K-ras, and beta-catenin, and type II showing aneuploidy and p53 mutations. This article reviews the genetic aspects of endometrial carcinogenesis and progression. We will define the precursor lesion of type I endometrioid cancer and the role of genetics and estrogen in its progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA. jlhecht@BIDMC.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Mutter
mesh_terms: D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D011372:Progestins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins