Ovarian and endometrial endometrioid carcinomas have distinct CTNNB1 and PTEN mutation profiles

Mod Pathol. 2014 Jan;27(1):128-34. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.107. Epub 2013 Jun 14.

Abstract

Ovarian endometrioid carcinomas and endometrial endometrioid carcinomas share many histological and molecular alterations. These similarities are likely due to a common endometrial epithelial precursor cell of origin, with most ovarian endometrioid carcinomas arising from endometriosis. To directly compare the mutation profiles of two morphologically similar tumor types, endometrial endometrioid carcinomas (n=307) and ovarian endometrioid carcinomas (n=33), we performed select exon capture sequencing on a panel of genes: ARID1A, PTEN, PIK3CA, KRAS, CTNNB1, PPP2R1A, TP53. We found that PTEN mutations are more frequent in low-grade endometrial endometrioid carcinomas (67%) compared with low-grade ovarian endometrioid carcinomas (17%) (P<0.0001). By contrast, CTNNB1 mutations are significantly different in low-grade ovarian endometrioid carcinomas (53%) compared with low-grade endometrial endometrioid carcinomas (28%) (P<0.0057). This difference in CTNNB1 mutation frequency may be reflective of the distinct microenvironments; the epithelial cells lining an endometriotic cyst within the ovary are exposed to a highly oxidative environment that promotes tumorigenesis. Understanding the distinct mutation patterns found in the PI3K and Wnt pathways of ovarian and endometrial endometrioid carcinomas may provide future opportunities for stratifying patients for targeted therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / pathology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • beta Catenin / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • beta Catenin
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human