Endometrial cancer in young women - clinical and molecular aspects

Objectives: The aim the study was to compare two groups of endometrial cancer patients (below and above 45 years of age) in the aspect of clinicopathological and molecular data. Material and Methods: The study encompassed 456 primary tumour samples retrospectively collected from a cohort of endometrial cancer patients, primarily treated by surgery. Molecular analysis covered: copy number variations of 10 genes (TOP2A, ERBB1, ERBB2, ERBB3, ERBB4, MYC, CCND1, ESR1, PIK3CA, RAD21) analyzed by quantitative PCR; mRNA expression of 6 genes (SCGB2A2, RAD21, RUNX1, SNAI1, SNAI2, PROM1) analyzed with the use of reverse transcription quantitative PCR; protein expression analysis of 8 markers (PGR, ESR1, ERBB1, ERBB2, ERBB3, ERBB4, TOP2A, pAKT1) performed with the use of immunohistochemistry Results: The younger group of patients was characterized by less frequent hypertension (p <0.00001), less frequent myometrial infiltration (p=0.002) and longer overall survival (p=0.003). Apart from RAD21 gene aberrations, which were more frequent in younger patients (p=0.02), the study revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: The study showed no molecular differences in the profile of younger and older endometrial cancer patients. Data on both the prognostic and predictive significance of RAD21 in endometrial cancer are still insufficient. The clinical profile of younger patients with endometrial carcinoma was slightly better when compared to elderly patients. Younger patients were characterized by longer overall survival.