Molecular pathology of endometrial carcinoma: practical aspects from the diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoints.
This article reviews the main molecular alterations involved in endometrial carcinoma. Five molecular features (microsatellite instability, and mutations in the PTEN, k-RAS, PIK3CA and beta-catenin genes) are characteristic of endometrioid carcinomas, whereas non-endometrioid carcinomas show alterations of p53, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on several chromosomes, as well as other molecular alterations (STK15, p16, E-cadherin and C-erb B2). The review also covers the phenomenon of apoptosis resistance, as well as the results obtained from cDNA array studies, and the perspectives for targeted therapies. A group of practical applications of molecular pathology techniques are also mentioned: diagnosis of hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome in patients with endometrial carcinoma; evaluation of precursor lesions; prognosis; diagnosis, particularly for synchronous endometrioid carcinomas of the uterus and the ovaries; and targeted therapies.
Llobet
D
D
Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics and Research Laboratory, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, Irblleida, Spain.
Pallares
J
J
Yeramian
A
A
Santacana
M
M
Eritja
N
N
Velasco
A
A
Dolcet
X
X
Matias-Guiu
X
X
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D009154:Mutation; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods