title: Molecular pathology of endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: This review paper discusses the main molecular alterations of endometrial carcinoma, the most common cancer of the female genital tract. Two clinicopathological variants are recognized: the oestrogen-related (type I, endometrioid carcinoma) and the non-oestrogen-related (type II, non-endometrioid carcinoma). Whereas type I shows microsatellite instability and mutations in PTEN, PIK3CA, K-RAS and CTNNB1 (beta-catenin), type II exhibits TP53 mutations and chromosomal instability. Recent investigations regarding the role of non-coding RNA have provided important information regarding tumour progression. Understanding pathogenesis at the molecular level is essential for identifying biomarkers of potential use in targeted therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics and Research Laboratory, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain. xmatias@arnau.scs.es
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Matias-Guiu
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prat
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D058534:Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051176:beta Catenin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D058534:Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C484760:PIK3CA protein, human; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human