RECENT ADVANCES IN THE HISTOPATHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY OF CARCINOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM

Endometrial carcinoma is the commonest malignancy of the female genita l tract. The pathogenesis is complex and at least three pathogenetic s ubtypes exist with different prognostic implications. The molecular ev ents involved remain poorly defined but several genes are involved and mutations of tp53, WAF1/CIP1, PTEN, bcl-2 and c-erbB-2 have been impl icated. Although care is needed in interpreting the results, the major ity of these mutations can be detected immunohistochemically and there fore have the potential to aid the pathologist and surgeon in assessin g the prognosis of a tumour. However, for the time being, no. molecula r marker is as valuable in determining prognosis as conventional param eters such as tumour type, grade and vascular space involvement.