Page 44 - SDIR5 Abstract book 21 12 2021.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

P4

Expression and diagnostic potential of genes involved in PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in
endometrial cancer

Milica Mihajlovic , Aleksandar Cetkovic , Zorka Milovanovic , Aleksandar Tomasevic , Predrag
4
3
1*
2
5
4
4
Petrasinovic , Stefan Mandic-Rajcevic , Vesna Plesinac-Karapandzic , Ana Krivokuca 1
1 Department for experimental oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000
Belgrade, Serbia
2 Clinic for oncological surgery, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000 Belgrade,
Serbia
3 Department for patohistology and citology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000
Belgrade, Serbia
4
Department for radiotherapy, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000 Belgrade,
Serbia
5 School of Public Health and Health Management and Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Belgrade, Dr Subotica starijeg 8, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia

Background: Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Serbian women. Changes in genes
whose protein products are involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are found to be crucial in the
development of this disease. We aimed to investigate expression of PIK3CA, PTEN, and ARID1A genes in
endometrial cancer and to evaluate their potential diagnostic value in this disease. Materials and methods:
The cohort was comprised of 54 women with the diagnosis of endometrial cancer whose surgery was
performed at IORS during 2016 and 2017. Tumor and normal-adjacent to tumor tissue (NAT), which was
used as a control, were reviewed by a pathologist after the surgery. The RNA was isolated from fresh frozen
tissue samples by TRIzol extraction, converted to cDNA by reverse transcription and quantified by qPCR.
Results: Significantly higher expression of PTEN was detected in NAT, compared to tumor tissue (p=0.0168).
No difference was found for PIK3CA (p=0.188) and ARID1A (p=0.124). ROC curve analysis showed that PTEN
expression has a discriminatory potential (AUC=0.74, Cut-off 1.14, sensitivity 0.65, specificity 0.84). ARID1A
expression could also serve as a discriminant (AUC=0.74, Cut-off 0.94, sensitivity 0.81, specificity 0.68).
PIK3CA expression does not have a discriminatory potential (AUC=0.55, Cut-off 0.89, sensitivity 0.31,
specificity 0.91). Conclusions: Higher expression of PTEN in tumor tissue compared to one in the NAT
highlights the need for elucidation of its role as a tumor suppressor in endometrial cancer. Expression of
PTEN and ARID1A higher than established threshold in the tumor tissue could serve as a potential diagnostic
biomarker of endometrial cancer.
Keywords: gene expression, endometrial cancer, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

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