Endometrial Carcinoma: Specific Targeted Pathways

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017:943:149-207. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-43139-0_6.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the western world with more than 280,000 cases per year worldwide. Prognosis for EC at early stages, when primary surgical resection is the most common initial treatment, is excellent. Five-year survival rate is around 70 %.Several molecular alterations have been described in the different types of EC. They occur in genes involved in important signaling pathways. In this chapter, we will review the most relevant altered pathways in EC, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, Tyrosine kinase, WNT/β-Catenin, cell cycle, and TGF-β signaling pathways. At the end of the chapter, the most significant clinical trials will be briefly discussed.This information is important to identify specific targets for therapy.

Keywords: Endometrial cancer; PI3K pathology; Signaling pathway; Target therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / trends
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • beta Catenin
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases