The unique metabolome of clear cell ovarian carcinoma.

Clear cell ovarian carcinoma (CCOC) is an aggressive malignancy affecting younger women. Despite ovarian cancer subtypes having diverse molecular and clinical characteristics, the mainstay of treatment for advanced stage disease remains cytotoxic chemotherapy. Late stage CCOC is resistant to conventional chemotherapy, which means a suboptimal outcome for patients affected. Despite detailed genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic characterisation, subtype-specific treatment for CCOC has shown little progress. The unique glycogen accumulation defining CCOC suggests altered metabolic pathway activity and dependency. This study presents the first metabolomic landscape of ovarian cancer subtypes, including 42 CCOC, 20 high-grade serous and 21 endometrioid ovarian carcinomas, together comprising the three most common ovarian carcinoma subtypes. We describe a distinct metabolomic landscape of CCOC compared with other ovarian cancer subtypes, including alterations in energy utilisation and cysteine metabolism. In addition, we identify CCOC-specific alterations in metabolic pathways including serine biosynthesis and ROS-associated pathways that could serve as potential therapeutic targets. Our study provides the first in-depth study into the metabolome of ovarian cancers and a rich resource to support ongoing research efforts to identify subtype-specific therapeutic targets that could improve the dismal outcome for patients with this devastating malignancy. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Selective utilization of circulating tumor DNA testing enables disease monitoring in endometrial and ovarian carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Biomarkers reflecting real-time response to therapy and recurrence are lacking. We assessed the clinical value of detecting cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) mutations in endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian cancer (OC) patients. METHODS: EC/OC patients undergoing primary surgery were consented for tissue banking and 2-year serial blood draws. Tumor tissue DNA and plasma ctDNA underwent next generation sequencing using a targeted gene panel to identify somatic mutations. RESULTS: Of 44 patients (24 EC, 17 OC, 2 synchronous endometrial and ovarian carcinomas [SEOC] and 1 endocervical adenocarcinoma [EA]) at least one somatic mutation was identified in tumor tissue in 40 (91%, 20/24 EC, all OC/SEOC/EA), and in preoperative plasma ctDNA in 12 (27%) patients (6/24 [25%] EC and 6/17 [35%] OC). Detection of preoperative ctDNA mutations was associated with advanced stage, higher preoperative CA125, and disease recurrence. In 5/12 (42%) patients with preoperative ctDNA mutations, examination/imaging suggested clinical stage I however final pathology revealed stage II/III. In 11 patients where serial timepoints were assessed during treatment for ctDNA and CA125, ctDNA clearance preceded normalization of CA125. Thirteen patients developed recurrent disease (4 EC, 8 OC, 1 EA); 8 in whom ctDNA mutations were detected postoperatively, and 4 followed through time of recurrence with ctDNA mutations identified 2-5 months prior to clinical/radiologic/biomarker progression in 3. CONCLUSION: ctDNA can reflect larger tumor volume/metastases, treatment response and recurrence in EC and OC. Careful patient selection is critical to direct resources to patients most likely to benefit, considering disease burden and risk group.

Targeted and Shallow Whole-Genome Sequencing Identifies Therapeutic Opportunities in p53abn Endometrial Cancers.

PURPOSE: Shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS) can detect copy-number (CN) aberrations. In high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) sWGS identified CN signatures such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) to direct therapy. We applied sWGS with targeted sequencing to p53abn endometrial cancers to identify additional prognostic stratification and therapeutic opportunities. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: sWGS and targeted panel sequencing was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded p53abn endometrial cancers. CN alterations, mutational data and CN signatures were derived, and associations to clinicopathologic and outcomes data were assessed. RESULTS: In 187 p53abn endometrial cancers, 5 distinct CN signatures were identified. Signature 5 was associated with BRCA1/2 CN loss with features similar to HGSOC HRD signature. Twenty-two percent of potential HRD cases were identified, 35 patients with signature 5, and 8 patients with BRCA1/2 somatic mutations. Signatures 3 and 4 were associated with a high ploidy state, and CCNE1, ERBB2, and MYC amplifications, with mutations in PIK3CA enriched in signature 3. We observed improved overall survival (OS) for patients with signature 2 and worse OS for signatures 1 and 3. Twenty-eight percent of patients had CCNE1 amplification and this subset was enriched with carcinosarcoma histotype. Thirty-four percent of patients, across all histotypes, had ERBB2 amplification and/or HER2 overexpression on IHC, which was associated with worse outcomes. Mutations in PPP2R1A (29%) and FBXW7 (16%) were among the top 5 most common mutations. CONCLUSIONS: sWGS and targeted sequencing identified therapeutic opportunities in 75% of patients with p53abn endometrial cancer. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of treatments targeting these identified pathways within p53abn endometrial cancers.

Cáncer gástrico difuso hereditario (CGDH): presentación de una familia con una nueva mutación del gen CDH1 / Hereditary diffuse gastric Cancer (HDGC): presentation of a family with a new mutation of the CDH1 GENE

Introducción: el CGDH se hereda en forma autosómica dominante. Su sospecha se basa en los antecedentes familiares y su confirmación requiere estudios moleculares. En el 40% de las familias se logra identificar una mutación en el gen CDH1 de la caderina- E que permite discriminar a los portadores y no portadores. La prevención para los portadores de la mutación incluye la gastrectomía profiláctica o la vigilancia endoscópica cada 6 a 12 meses. Objetivo: presentar el caso de una familia con CGDH portadora de una mutación en gen CDH1 no previamente reportada. Caso: mujer de 28 años, gastrectomizada por cáncer gástrico de tipo difuso con antecedentes familiares de cáncer gástrico que mostraba un patrón de herencia autosómico dominante (afectación de 9 miembros en 5 generaciones). Con sospecha de CGDH se comenzó un plan de vigilancia endoscópica y se analizó el ADN purificado de la sangre periférica de la paciente afectada mediante la secuenciación directa del gen CDH1, en la cual se dentificó una mutación sin sentido (non-sense) en la posición 1913 G>A (W638X) del exón 12. Conclusión: la recolección detallada de los antecedentes familiares permitió sospechar una entidad hereditaria muy poco frecuente. Los estudios moleculares confirmaron el diagnóstico, lo que posibilitará la estimación del riesgo individual en los familiares consanguíneos.(AU)

Introduction: HDGC is a hereditary cancer syndrome with an autosomic dominant pattern. It may be clinically diagnosed by family background, and confirmed by genetic testing. In 40% of the families, a mutation in the CDH1 gene (E-cadherin) can be identified. Furthermore, the identification of the pathogenic mutation enables the segregate non-carriers (having population risk) and carriers. Prevention for the latter group includes prophylactic gastrectomy or surveillance endoscopy every 6 to 12 months. Objective: to present the case of an HDGC family with identified CDH1 mutation. CASE: 28 yearold woman who underwent gastrectomy for a diffuse ype gastric cancer. Her family background showed multiple gastric cancers with inherited autosomaldominant pattern (affectation of 9 members in 5 generations). Suspecting HDGC, a plan of surveillance endoscopy was iniciated, and a her DNA sample was sequenced for CDH1 gene finding a non-sense mutation in position 1913 G>A (W638X) of exon 12. Conclusion: the detailed recollection of the family background allowed to identify a rare inherited entity. The molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis and will allow future tailored counselling among relatives.(AU)

Cáncer gástrico difuso hereditario (CGDH): presentación de una familia con una nueva mutación del gen CDH1 / Hereditary diffuse gastric Cancer (HDGC): presentation of a family with a new mutation of the CDH1 GENE

Introducción: el CGDH se hereda en forma autosómica dominante. Su sospecha se basa en los antecedentes familiares y su confirmación requiere estudios moleculares. En el 40% de las familias se logra identificar una mutación en el gen CDH1 de la caderina- E que permite discriminar a los portadores y no portadores. La prevención para los portadores de la mutación incluye la gastrectomía profiláctica o la vigilancia endoscópica cada 6 a 12 meses. Objetivo: presentar el caso de una familia con CGDH portadora de una mutación en gen CDH1 no previamente reportada. Caso: mujer de 28 años, gastrectomizada por cáncer gástrico de tipo difuso con antecedentes familiares de cáncer gástrico que mostraba un patrón de herencia autosómico dominante (afectación de 9 miembros en 5 generaciones). Con sospecha de CGDH se comenzó un plan de vigilancia endoscópica y se analizó el ADN purificado de la sangre periférica de la paciente afectada mediante la secuenciación directa del gen CDH1, en la cual se dentificó una mutación sin sentido (non-sense) en la posición 1913 G>A (W638X) del exón 12. Conclusión: la recolección detallada de los antecedentes familiares permitió sospechar una entidad hereditaria muy poco frecuente. Los estudios moleculares confirmaron el diagnóstico, lo que posibilitará la estimación del riesgo individual en los familiares consanguíneos.

Introduction: HDGC is a hereditary cancer syndrome with an autosomic dominant pattern. It may be clinically diagnosed by family background, and confirmed by genetic testing. In 40% of the families, a mutation in the CDH1 gene (E-cadherin) can be identified. Furthermore, the identification of the pathogenic mutation enables the segregate non-carriers (having population risk) and carriers. Prevention for the latter group includes prophylactic gastrectomy or surveillance endoscopy every 6 to 12 months. Objective: to present the case of an HDGC family with identified CDH1 mutation. CASE: 28 yearold woman who underwent gastrectomy for a diffuse ype gastric cancer. Her family background showed multiple gastric cancers with inherited autosomaldominant pattern (affectation of 9 members in 5 generations). Suspecting HDGC, a plan of surveillance endoscopy was iniciated, and a her DNA sample was sequenced for CDH1 gene finding a non-sense mutation in position 1913 G>A (W638X) of exon 12. Conclusion: the detailed recollection of the family background allowed to identify a rare inherited entity. The molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis and will allow future tailored counselling among relatives.