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Pathology, Genomics, and Treatment of Endometrial Cancer

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Precision Medicine in Gynecology and Obstetrics

Part of the book series: Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics ((CGO))

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Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading causes of gynecologic malignancy in westernized countries, in which people take fat-rich foods and the estimated incidence rate of EC has kept increasing. EC has been traditionally classified into two categories, Type I and Type II, based on morphologic features. Type I ECs, composed of low-grade endometrioid carcinoma, possess alterations in PTEN, PIK3CA, ARID1A, K-ras, β-catenin, and/or DNA mismatch repair genes and usually have good prognosis. Type II ECs, mainly composed of serous and clear cell carcinoma, have different gene alterations such as TP53 and PPP2R1A to exhibit aggressive features with poor prognostic outcome. This classification is still convenient to comprehend EC natures roughly or to provide ordinary treatments in the clinical setting, but there are several limitations to investigate EC genomics and to develop a novel therapy for treatment-refractory disease as Type I ECs are not uniform in genetics and Type II ECs are also composed of various histological subtypes. Recent genome-wide analysis provides new concepts as molecular subtyping and genetic predisposition of heterogeneous Type I ECs, which is expected to proceed future personalized medicine. As for Type II ECs, there is no reproducible breakthrough translational achievement, and so that subtype-specific genome-wide analysis with large enough sample size is now warranted for revealing genetics and developing effective therapies for treatment-refractory cases.

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  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Tsukasa Baba M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Tsukasa Baba M.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Tsukasa Baba M.D., Ph.D. .

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  1. National Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

    Ikuo Konishi

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Baba, T. (2017). Pathology, Genomics, and Treatment of Endometrial Cancer. In: Konishi, I. (eds) Precision Medicine in Gynecology and Obstetrics. Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2489-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2489-4_6

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