Adenomyosis as a Risk Factor for Myometrial or Endometrial Neoplasms-Review

Abstract

Adenomyosis is a common benign gynecological condition, defined as an extension of endometrial tissue into the myometrium. Some studies suggest that adenomyosis could be a favorable prediction factor associated with survival outcomes in endometrial cancer. The aim of our systematic review was to investigate the current knowledge regarding adenomyosis and a possible molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in adenomyotic lesions. In addition, the long-term prognosis for patients with endometrial cancer and coexisting adenomyosis (and endometriosis) was a key point of the research. The current literature was reviewed by searching PubMed, using the following phrases: "adenomyosis and endometrial cancer" and "malignant transformation of adenomyosis". According to the literature, genetic mutations, epigenetic changes, and inactivation of specific tumor suppressor genes in adenomyosis are still poorly understood. Data regarding the influence of adenomyosis on survival outcomes in endometrial cancer seem to be contradictory and require further clinical and molecular investigation.

Keywords: adenomyosis; endometrial cancer; malignant transformation of adenomyosis.

Figure 1

Searching strategy – flow chart[((“adenomyosis OR “adenomyosis” [All Fields] OR “adenomyoses” [All Fields]) AND (“endometrial neoplasms” OR (“endometrial” [All Fields] AND “neoplasms” [All Fields]) OR “endometrial neoplasms” [All Fields] OR (“endometrial” [All Fields] AND “cancer” [All Fields]) OR “endometrial cancer” [All Fields])) AND (1954:2020[pdat]) and (“malign” [All Fields] OR “malignance” [All Fields] OR “malignances” [All Fields] OR “malignant” [All Fields] OR “malignants” [All Fields] OR “malignities” [All Fields] OR “malignity” [All Fields] OR “malignization” [All Fields] OR “malignized” [All Fields] OR “maligns” [All Fields] OR “neoplasms” OR “neoplasms” [All Fields] OR “malignancies” [All Fields] OR “malignancy” [All Fields]) AND (“transform”[All Fields] OR “transformability” [All Fields] OR “transformable” [All Fields] OR “transformant”[All Fields] OR “transformants” [All Fields] OR “transformation” [All Fields] OR “transformations” [All Fields] OR “transformed” [All Fields] OR “transforms” [All Fields]) AND (“adenomyosis” OR “adenomyosis”[All Fields] OR “adenomyoses”[All Fields]).

Figure 2

Possible relationships between adenomyosis and endometrial cancer.