[Is endometriosis a precancerous lesion? Perspectives and clinical implications]

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between endometriosis and clear cell/endometrioid ovarian cancers (named "Endometriosis Associated Ovarian Cancer" or EAOC). The recent discovery of signaling pathways (especially the SWI/SNF and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways) that linked endometriosis and EAOC could lead to the development of specific biomarkers as ARID1A to screen benign to premalignant endometriosis and to new targeted treatment. Moreover, the better understanding of the pathogenesis of the epithelial ovarian cancer arising from the Fallopian tube could allow new early prevention strategies that will be described in this review.

Keywords: ARID1A; Cancer ovarien endométrioïde; Cancer ovarien à cellules claires; Clear cell ovarian carcinoma; Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma; Endometriosis; Endométriose; Fallopian tube; Trompe de Fallope.