Open Access

Clinicopathological and molecular pathological characteristics in tamoxifen‑related endometrial cancer

  • Authors:
    • Harumi Saeki
    • Yoshiya Horimoto
    • May Thinzar Hlaing
    • Yuan Men
    • Lu Rong
    • Yumiko Ishizuka
    • Toshitaka Uomori
    • Emiko Yoshida
    • Yasuhisa Terao
    • Atsushi Arakawa
    • Tsuyoshi Saito
    • Takashi Yao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 9, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14142
  • Article Number: 9
  • Copyright: © Saeki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Tamoxifen (TAM), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is often used for long‑term adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor‑positive breast cancer. TAM is known to increase the risk of endometrial cancer (EC); however, the mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, molecular genetic analysis of EC following TAM administration (TAM‑related EC) was conducted. A total of 10 samples of TAM‑related EC and 20 sporadic EC samples (as controls) were analyzed. Copy number variation analysis was conducted, microsatellite instability (MSI) status was assessed, and mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression was examined immunohistochemically. Copy number variation analysis revealed that KDR, NOTCH1, NTRK1, NTRK3 and PDGFRB were more frequently amplified in TAM‑related EC (P=0.039, P<0.001, P=0.011, P=0.006 and P=0.035, respectively). In MSI analysis, 4 cases were classified as MSI‑high (40%), which is a higher frequency compared with that among patients with sporadic EC (~10% in Japanese women). Loss of MMR proteins was confirmed in all MSI‑high cases. In 1 MSI‑high case, a benign lesion of hyperplasia prior to EC development was also MSI‑high with loss of some MMR protein expression. Several genes were specifically amplified in TAM‑related ECs. Furthermore, TAM‑related ECs were frequently MSI‑high. Further studies are required to be conclusive; however, the present findings may lead to a reduction of unnecessary gynaecological testing in clinical practice and also encourage the testing for MSI status for optimal individualized treatment.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

January-2024
Volume 27 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Saeki H, Horimoto Y, Hlaing MT, Men Y, Rong L, Ishizuka Y, Uomori T, Yoshida E, Terao Y, Arakawa A, Arakawa A, et al: Clinicopathological and molecular pathological characteristics in tamoxifen‑related endometrial cancer. Oncol Lett 27: 9, 2024
APA
Saeki, H., Horimoto, Y., Hlaing, M.T., Men, Y., Rong, L., Ishizuka, Y. ... Yao, T. (2024). Clinicopathological and molecular pathological characteristics in tamoxifen‑related endometrial cancer. Oncology Letters, 27, 9. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14142
MLA
Saeki, H., Horimoto, Y., Hlaing, M. T., Men, Y., Rong, L., Ishizuka, Y., Uomori, T., Yoshida, E., Terao, Y., Arakawa, A., Saito, T., Yao, T."Clinicopathological and molecular pathological characteristics in tamoxifen‑related endometrial cancer". Oncology Letters 27.1 (2024): 9.
Chicago
Saeki, H., Horimoto, Y., Hlaing, M. T., Men, Y., Rong, L., Ishizuka, Y., Uomori, T., Yoshida, E., Terao, Y., Arakawa, A., Saito, T., Yao, T."Clinicopathological and molecular pathological characteristics in tamoxifen‑related endometrial cancer". Oncology Letters 27, no. 1 (2024): 9. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14142