K-ras mutation may promote carcinogenesis of endometriosis leading to ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

Endometriosis shares some features characteristic of malignancy; however, it remains unclear whether endometriosis is a precursor to malignant disease. The objective is to determine the genetic relationship between endometriosis and ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCA). Among 37 Japanese patients with OCCA who underwent primary surgery at Showa University Hospital between 1987 and 1999, K-ras mutations were detected in 6.

Malignant transformation of endometriosis: application of laser microdissection for analysis of genetic alterations according to pathological changes.

Endometriosis is considered to be a possible precancerous disease. Pathologically, we observed malignant transformation of endometriosis to clear cell carcinoma or endometriotic carcinoma of the ovary, via the step of atypical endometriosis. Pathological changes reflected genetic alterations.