Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common malignancies of the female reproductive system, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. Endometrioid EC (EEC) was the most common type of EC. The microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern, a special mode of myometrial invasion...

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Main Authors: Xiaobo Zhang, Yixuan Zhen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine
Online Access:https://gocm.bmj.com/content/4/4/e000063.full
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author Xiaobo Zhang
Yixuan Zhen
author_facet Xiaobo Zhang
Yixuan Zhen
author_sort Xiaobo Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common malignancies of the female reproductive system, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. Endometrioid EC (EEC) was the most common type of EC. The microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern, a special mode of myometrial invasion newly discovered in recent years, mainly existed in low-grade EEC. Most EEC with MELF invasion had no specific molecular profile (NSMP EEC), and most NSMP EEC with MELF had a catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) wild type. Apart from NSMP EEC, microsatellite instability-high was the most common molecular type. Initially considered a degenerative change, several researchers suggested an association between the MELF pattern and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Several independent predictors of adverse outcomes, including tumour size, myometrial invasion, histological grade and lymphovascular space invasion, are related to the MELF pattern. This review aimed to remind pathologists of the clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of the MELF pattern to avoid missed diagnosis or underdiagnosis.
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spelling doaj-art-85e96db762f240f9a52cc97a956e7a032025-08-20T02:56:47ZengBMJ Publishing GroupGynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine2097-05872667-16462024-12-014410.1136/gocm-2024-000063Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a reviewXiaobo Zhang0Yixuan Zhen12Peking University People’s Hospital, Department of Pathology, Beijing, ChinaPeking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, ChinaEndometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common malignancies of the female reproductive system, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. Endometrioid EC (EEC) was the most common type of EC. The microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern, a special mode of myometrial invasion newly discovered in recent years, mainly existed in low-grade EEC. Most EEC with MELF invasion had no specific molecular profile (NSMP EEC), and most NSMP EEC with MELF had a catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) wild type. Apart from NSMP EEC, microsatellite instability-high was the most common molecular type. Initially considered a degenerative change, several researchers suggested an association between the MELF pattern and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Several independent predictors of adverse outcomes, including tumour size, myometrial invasion, histological grade and lymphovascular space invasion, are related to the MELF pattern. This review aimed to remind pathologists of the clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of the MELF pattern to avoid missed diagnosis or underdiagnosis.https://gocm.bmj.com/content/4/4/e000063.full
spellingShingle Xiaobo Zhang
Yixuan Zhen
Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine
title Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
title_full Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
title_fullStr Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
title_full_unstemmed Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
title_short Clinicopathological features, molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern in endometrial carcinoma: a review
title_sort clinicopathological features molecular mechanisms and prognosis of microcystic elongated and fragmented melf pattern in endometrial carcinoma a review
url https://gocm.bmj.com/content/4/4/e000063.full
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