A Combined Morphologic and Molecular Approach to Retrospectively Identify KRAS-Mutated Mesonephric-like Adenocarcinomas of the Endometrium. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolin, David L.; Costigan, Danielle C.; Dong, Fei; Nucci, Marisa R.; Howitt, Brooke E.
• Is Part Of: American journal of surgical pathology. Volume 43:Number 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: endometrial carcinoma -- mesonephric carcinoma -- mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma -- KRAS; Pathology, Surgical -- Periodicals; 617.0705
• DOI: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-5185

Abstract

Abstract : An unusual subset of endometrial carcinoma, the mesonephric-like adenocarcinomas, are morphologically and molecularly similar to mesonephric carcinoma, characterized by KRAS mutation and lack of microsatellite instability. They also have a unique immunohistochemical profile and are usually positive for GATA-3, CD10, TTF-1, and negative for ER and PR. This study implemented a combined morphologic and molecular approach to retrospectively identify mesonephric-like carcinomas of the endometrium. KRAS -mutated microsatellite stable (MSS) endometrial carcinomas were identified from a database of 570 endometrial carcinomas that had undergone massively parallel sequencing. MSS tumors with canonical KRAS mutations that lacked features diagnostic of endometrioid carcinoma (including squamous or mucinous differentiation), were re-reviewed for morphologic features of mesonephric-like adenocarcinomas. Ninty-eight of 570 endometrial carcinomas (17%) harbored canonical KRAS mutations. Of the KRAS -mutated cases, 80 (82%) were MSS and 18 (18%) had microsatellite instability. Of the KRAS -mutated MSS cases with morphology review, 39/61 (64%) had squamous and/or mucinous differentiation while 22 (36%) lacked these histotype-defining features. Eight of these 22 had PTEN mutations and lacked morphologic features of mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma, leaving 14 cases with a possible mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma-like molecular profile that underwent detailed morphologic re-review. Ten of 14 had morphology typical of serous (3), carcinosarcoma (4), or endometrioid (3) carcinoma. In 4 cases, there was striking morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular resemblance to mesonephric carcinoma, leading to re-classification as mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma. Two of the 4 cases presented at an advanced stage, and a third case later developed distant metastases. On the basis of this retrospective study, KRAS- mutated mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma represents ∼1% of all endometrial carcinomas. Future prospective recognition of this unusual variant of endometrial carcinoma may be important given its possible aggressive nature.