What’s Behind the Scenes? New Insights in Endometrial Cancer Management and Risk Stratification (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second edition of “What’s Behind the Scenes? New Insights in Endometrial Cancer Management and Risk Stratification”. (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/special_issues/T8D80C5N2I).

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most widespread malignancy in developed countries and the first gynecologic cancer in the United States. Its incidence is expected to double over the next 10 years. Over the last few years, Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) results have led to a revision of the EC classification, which now includes four genomic classes with different oncological outcomes: POLE (good prognosis); high-copy-number tumors with TP53 mutations (poor prognosis); hypermutated tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) (good to intermediate prognosis); and low-copy-number tumors (good to intermediate prognosis). This innovative approach to the definition of EC has led to the reframing of the clinical and pathological history of EC. The TGCA molecular classification has since received external and real-world validation due to a growing body of evidence confirming the validity of this new EC stratification (PORTEC 3, etc.). A fundamental step was the transition from tumor DNA sequencing to the immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of molecular classification in the ProMisE study, which outlined four different prognostic EC subgroups that are almost superimposable onto the TCGA genomic classes. These subgroups were defined as POLE-mutated (good prognosis), p53-abnormal (poor prognosis), mismatch repair deficient (MMRd; good to intermediate prognosis), and p53-wild type (good to intermediate prognosis). Notably, the p53-wild type, also known as “no specific molecular profile” (NSMP), represents the most prevalent EC subgroup (39–64% within the overall EC population). Therefore, other molecular markers have been investigated to fill the remaining knowledge gaps. Recently, the ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines classification system was introduced, combining pathological and clinical features with new molecular information for EC risk stratification and management. The PORTEC 4a study is currently being conducted and aims to define the correct therapeutic management required with adjuvant therapy, while the EUGENIE trial is investigating the proper surgical stage for each molecular class. The aim of this Special Issue is to describe the updates related to the classification and management of EC in the context of this new molecular era.

Dr. Emanuele Perrone
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.