@article {SIDERIS533, author = {MICHAIL SIDERIS and ELIF ILIRIA EMIN and ZIENA ABDULLAH and JOHN HANRAHAN and KONSTANTINA MARIA STEFATOU and VASILEIOS SEVAS and ECE EMIN and TONY HOLLINGWORTH and FUNLAYO ODEJINMI and SAVVAS PAPAGRIGORIADIS and SOTIRIS VIMPLIS and FREDRIC WILLMOTT}, title = {The Role of KRAS in Endometrial Cancer: A Mini-Review}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {533--539}, year = {2019}, doi = {10.21873/anticanres.13145}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common cancer of the female genital tract, resulting annually in 76,000 related deaths worldwide. EC originates either from oestrogen-related proliferative endometrium (type I, endometrioid), or from atrophic endometrium (type II, non-endometrioid). Each type of EC is characterized by different molecular profile alterations. The Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene encodes a signalling protein which moderates response to various extracellular signals via down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphoinositide-3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (PI3K/AKT) pathways. This article reviews the role of KRAS in predicting transition from hyperplastic endometrium to early-stage well-differentiated EC, as well as further invasive proliferation of the tumour to advanced-stage disease. KRAS seems to be directly associated with type I EC, and most studies support its early involvement in carcinogenesis. Current evidence correlates KRAS mutations with increased cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as up-regulation of endometrial cell oestrogen receptors. Tumours positive for KRAS mutation can harbour hypermethylation-related changes in genome expression, and this can be the cause of concurrent loss of DNA repair proteins. Despite some evidence that KRAS mutation status affects cancer progression, a consensus is yet to be reached. Based on the available evidence, we suggest that screening for KRAS mutations in patients with hyperplastic endometrium or early-stage type I EC, may provide important information for prognosis stratification, and further provision of personalised treatment options.}, issn = {0250-7005}, URL = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/2/533}, eprint = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/2/533.full.pdf}, journal = {Anticancer Research} }