An observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC) stage IA G1, or atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), undergoing organ-preserving treatment, was conducted. Objective of the study: To determine
CDO1,
PITX2, and
CDH13 gene methylation levels in early endometrial cancer
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An observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC) stage IA G1, or atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), undergoing organ-preserving treatment, was conducted. Objective of the study: To determine
CDO1,
PITX2, and
CDH13 gene methylation levels in early endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia specimens obtained before organ-preserving treatment in the patients with adequate response and with insufficient response to hormonal treatment. Materials and methods: A total of 41 endometrial specimens obtained during diagnostic uterine curettage in women with EC (
n = 28) and AEH (
n = 13), willing to preserve reproductive function, were studied; 18 specimens of uterine cancer IA stage G1 from peri- and early postmenopausal women (comparison group) were included in the study. The control group included 18 endometrial specimens from healthy women obtained by diagnostic curettage for missed abortion and/or intrauterine adhesions. Methylation levels were analyzed using the modified MS-HRM method. Results: All 13 women with AEH had a complete response (CR) to medical treatment. In the group undergoing organ-preserving treatment for uterine cancer IA stage G1 (
n = 28), 14 patients had a complete response (EC CR group) and 14 did not (EC non-CR group). It was found that all groups had statistically significant differences in
CDO1 gene methylation levels compared to the control group (
p < 0.001) except for the EC CR group (
p = 0.21). The
p-value for the difference between EC CR and EC non-CR groups was <0.001. The differences in
PITX2 gene methylation levels between the control and study groups were also significantly different (
p < 0.001), except for the AEH group (
p = 0.21). For the difference between EC CR and EC non-CR groups, the
p-value was 0.43. For
CDH13 gene methylation levels, statistically significant differences were found between the control and EC non-CR groups (
p < 0.001), and the control and EC comparison groups (
p = 0.005). When comparing the EC CR group with EC non-CR group, the
p-value for this gene was <0.001. The simultaneous assessment of
CDO1 and
CDH13 genes methylation allowed for an accurate distinction between EC CR and EC non-CR groups (AUC = 0.96). Conclusion: The assessment of
CDO1 and
CDH13 gene methylation in endometrial specimens from patients with endometrial cancer (IA stage G1), scheduled for medical treatment, can predict the treatment outcome.
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