New Pathological and Clinical Insights in Endometrial Cancer in View of the Updated ESGO/ESTRO/ESP Guidelines

Simple Summary Histopathological classification of endometrial carcinoma has evidenced two main groups with different biological behavior: low-grade (G1-G2) and high-grade (G3) endometrial tumors. Moreover, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) documented four molecular categories with distinct clinical, pathologic, and molecular features: POLE/ultramutated (7% of cases) microsatellite instability (MSI)/hypermutated (28%), copy-number low/endometrioid (39%), and copy-number high/serous-like (26%). The aim of the present paper is to review all endometrial carcinoma histotypes in light of the morphological and molecular prognostic TCGA groups. Endometrial carcinoma represents the most common gynecological cancer in Europe and the USA. Histopathological classification based on tumor morphology and tumor grade has played a crucial role in the management of endometrial carcinoma, allowing a prognostic stratification into distinct risk categories, and guiding surgical and adjuvant therapy. In 2013, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network reported a large scale molecular analysis of 373 endometrial carcinomas which demonstrated four categories with distinct clinical, pathologic, and molecular features: POLE/ultramutated (7% of cases) microsatellite instability (MSI)/hypermutated (28%), copy-number low/endometrioid (39%), and copy-number high/serous-like (26%). In the present article, we report a detailed histological and molecular review of all endometrial carcinoma histotypes in light of the current ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines. In particular, we focus on the distribution and prognostic value of the TCGA groups in each histotype.

Automated summary

Histopathological classification of endometrial carcinoma divides tumors into low-grade and high-grade groups, while TCGA identifies four molecular categories: POLE/ultramutated, microsatellite instability (MSI)/hypermutated, copy-number low/endometrioid, and copy-number high/serous-like. The classification based on tumor morphology and molecular features plays a crucial role in prognosis and guiding treatment strategies.