TY - JOUR T1 - Molecular pathology of endometrial carcinoma: practical aspects from the diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoints JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology JO - J Clin Pathol SP - 777 LP - 785 DO - 10.1136/jcp.2008.056101 VL - 62 IS - 9 AU - D Llobet AU - J Pallares AU - A Yeramian AU - M Santacana AU - N Eritja AU - A Velasco AU - X Dolcet AU - X Matias-Guiu Y1 - 2009/09/01 UR - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/62/9/777.abstract N2 - 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 β-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. ER -