Open Access

Ovarian endometriosis, a precursor of ovarian cancer: Histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA alterations (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Adriana Ioana Gaia‑Oltean
    • Cornelia Braicu
    • Diana Gulei
    • Razvan Ciortea
    • Dan Mihu
    • Horace Roman
    • Alexandru Irimie
    • Ioana Berindan‑Neagoe
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 22, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9674
  • Article Number: 243
  • Copyright: © Gaia‑Oltean et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ovarian endometriosis is a frequent chronic gynecological disease with an uncertain evolution regarding its progression or association with ovarian malignant lesions. The present review summarized the histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA (miRNA/miR) alterations associated with ovarian endometriosis and cancer and their possible interaction. The endometriosis‑ovarian cancer interaction has been proposed by certain researchers as a single entity. Histological results indicated that endometriosis has been in different circumstances coexisting with ovarian cancer, with reference to endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma. Endometriosis with moderate and severe atypia can influence cell proliferation and architecture, resulting in a possible malignant transformation. Gene expression analysis indicated that the pathologies of both endometriosis and ovarian cancer are characterized by genetic instability from a molecular point of view, as several important genetic mutations, including ARID1A, PI3KCA, PTEN, BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53 and KRAS genes, were identified. miRNA alterations have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression. Common dysregulated miRNAs, such as miR‑331, miR‑335, miR‑891, miR‑548, miR‑124, miR‑148, miR‑215, miR‑192, miR‑337, miR‑153, miR‑155, miR‑144, miR‑221 and miR‑3688 were extensively investigated in understanding endometriosis and ovarian cancer evolution. From a combined viewpoint including histological aspects, gene expression and miRNA alterations, it is reasonable to speculate that endometriosis is associated with ovarian cancer. Ovarian endometriosis lesions may present a risk for ovarian malignant lesions, which supports a model of endometriosis as a malignant precursor. However, the endometriosis‑ovarian cancer association is not widely accepted in the literature and additional studies are required to validate this association.
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March-2021
Volume 21 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Gaia‑Oltean A, Braicu C, Gulei D, Ciortea R, Mihu D, Roman H, Irimie A and Berindan‑Neagoe I: Ovarian endometriosis, a precursor of ovarian cancer: Histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA alterations (Review). Exp Ther Med 21: 243, 2021
APA
Gaia‑Oltean, A., Braicu, C., Gulei, D., Ciortea, R., Mihu, D., Roman, H. ... Berindan‑Neagoe, I. (2021). Ovarian endometriosis, a precursor of ovarian cancer: Histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA alterations (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 243. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9674
MLA
Gaia‑Oltean, A., Braicu, C., Gulei, D., Ciortea, R., Mihu, D., Roman, H., Irimie, A., Berindan‑Neagoe, I."Ovarian endometriosis, a precursor of ovarian cancer: Histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA alterations (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.3 (2021): 243.
Chicago
Gaia‑Oltean, A., Braicu, C., Gulei, D., Ciortea, R., Mihu, D., Roman, H., Irimie, A., Berindan‑Neagoe, I."Ovarian endometriosis, a precursor of ovarian cancer: Histological aspects, gene expression and microRNA alterations (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 3 (2021): 243. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9674