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Abstract
Introduction/Background Early-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has excellent prognosis however their rate of progression is significant. Being able to further stratify cases most likely to recur would have important clinical implications. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is emerging as a reliable variable to help to predict higher-risk disease, yet little is known about its molecular profile. Here we review the mutations found in a series of SCC with and without LVI.
Methodology We searched a cohort for cases of SCC previously characterized by a targeted next generation sequencing panel. Morphological review was performed for each case and LVI was defined as either negative, focal (1–4 foci) or extensive (>=5 foci). A statistical analysis was done to correlate both molecular and clinicopathological features.
Results We retrieved 22 cases of SCC for morphological review. The patient’s median age at diagnosis was 42-year-old and all cases were high-risk HPV-associated. Eight cases were negative for LVI, while focal and extensive LVI were both found in 7 cases each. Samples with extensive LVI showed the strongest association with MAP kinase pathway alterations (5/7) compared to 3/7 when focal and 1/8 in negative cases (p=0.019). The most common alteration across all cases was PIK3CA (38%).
Conclusion SCCs with LVI are associated with alteration of the MAP kinase pathway. Although MAPK pathway alterations are well reported in cancer, their relation to LVI is not well understood. This finding supports that LVI is associated with a distinct molecular profile. Validation of our results is ongoing in a larger cohort.
Disclosures No disclosures.
