Recent Advances in Endometriosis With Emphasis on Pathogenesis, Molecular Pathology, and Neoplastic Transformation

Michael Wells, Wells M
International journal of gynecological pathology : official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists · 2004 · vol. 23(4) , pp. 316–320 · doi:10.1097/01.pgp.0000139636.94352.89 · PMID:15381900 · W1965495939
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This review explores endometriosis pathogenesis, molecular findings like monoclonality and PTEN mutations, and its association with an increased risk of ovarian cancers, particularly endometrioid and clear cell adenocarcinomas.

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This review examines recent progress in understanding endometriosis, focusing on its pathogenesis, molecular pathology, and potential for neoplastic transformation. The authors identify key pathogenetic factors such as familial predisposition, immunological mechanisms, and hormonal influences, alongside molecular findings like monoclonality and loss of heterozygosity in associated adenocarcinomas. A major finding is the increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly endometrioid and clear cell types, in women with long-standing disease, often linked to shared PTEN mutations between the endometriotic lesions and the carcinoma. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically exploring its molecular underpinnings and the mechanism of malignant transformation into ovarian cancer.

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Abstract

This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of endometriosis with special reference to its pathogenesis, recent molecular studies, and relationship to neoplasia. Pathogenetic factors include familial predisposition, immunological factors, cell adhesion factors, angiogenic factors, and hormonal factors. Recent molecular findings in endometriosis include the monoclonality of endometriotic cysts and loss of heterozygosity in the majority of cases associated with adenocarcinoma. Women with a long-standing history of endometriosis have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, most commonly endometrioid and clear cell adenocarcinomas. In these cases, there is a high frequency of atypia in the endometriosis, and the endometriosis and the associated ovarian carcinoma may show identical PTEN mutations.
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Recent Advances in Endometriosis With Emphasis on Pathogenesis, Molecular Pathology, and Neoplastic Transformation - Michael Wells Summary This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of endometriosis with special reference to its pathogenesis, recent molecular studies, and relationship to neoplasia. Pathogenetic factors include familial predisposition, immunological factors, cell adhesion factors, angiogenic factors, and hormonal factors. Recent molecular findings in endometriosis include the monoclonality of endometriotic cysts and loss of heterozygosity in the majority of cases associated with adenocarcinoma. Women with a long-standing history of endometriosis have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, most commonly endometrioid and clear cell adenocarcinomas. In these cases, there is a high frequency of atypia in the endometriosis, and the endometriosis and the associated ovarian carcinoma may show identical PTEN mutations.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Endometriosis Endometriosis Carcinoma, Endometrioid Carcinoma, Endometrioid Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Female Humans Precancerous Conditions Precancerous Conditions Precancerous Conditions

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (45)

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