Endometrial Cancer: Biomarkers and Management

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last 15 years, a substantial improvement has been observed in terms of precise diagnostics of endometrial cancer, leading to changes in clinical management. The major shift was invoked by the results of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) published. Apart from classical histopathological characteristics, the data from TCGA, followed by an evaluation of clinical performance, led to defining four subgroups of endometrial cancer (POLEmut, MSI-H, copy number high with frequent P53 mutations, and copy number low). Research work, both in a translational setting and in a clinical environment, ended up with knowledge about clinical behavior and response to adjuvant treatment within each subgroup. At last, the new 2023 FIGO staging of endometrial cancer incorporates biomarkers (p53, POLE mut, and MSI-H) for staging purposes as they better predict the outcome of the disease. Further, several biomarkers explored in endometrial cancer possess an important role in the treatment of metastatic/advanced stages. These are important targets for novel therapeutic approaches (checkpoint inhibitors with or without multi-kinase inhibitors, inhibition of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, PARP inhibition, inhibition of human epidermal growth factor-2 therapy, inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, etc.). It is expected in the near future that translational medicine with clinical trials on the way will enable big steps for the improvement of oncologic outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer with avoidance of overtreatment and undertreatment. However, as precision medicine advances and is associated with higher financial costs of clinical management, we should explore possible solutions for avoiding huge disparities in patients’ access to all treatment modalities and to clinical trials.

To present a review of what is known and expected in biomarker development, clinical management of endometrial cancer patients, access to novel treatment and to published results of new studies. Reviews would be focused on specific populations (e.g., the elderly, a fertility-sparing setting, and non-endometrioid cancer) and translational research (overview, what is expected in near future) as well as in targeted therapies. Reviews would also include disparities in access to clinical trials and novel therapies.

We invite you and your colleagues to submit your articles reporting on this topic. Review articles, original research articles, and case reports (only if of the highest quality and clinically important) are all welcome.

Dr. Maja Pakiž
Guest Editor

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• endometrial cancer
• biomarkers
• target therapy
• precision medicine
• access to clinical trials