Uterine adenomyosis is an oligoclonal disorder associated with KRAS mutations

Nat Commun. 2019 Dec 19;10(1):5785. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13708-y.

Abstract

Uterine adenomyosis is a benign disorder that often co-occurs with endometriosis and/or leiomyoma, and impairs quality of life. The genomic features of adenomyosis are unknown. Here we apply next-generation sequencing to adenomyosis (70 individuals and 192 multi-regional samples), as well as co-occurring leiomyoma and endometriosis, and find recurring KRAS mutations in 26/70 (37.1%) of adenomyosis cases. Multi-regional sequencing reveals oligoclonality in adenomyosis, with some mutations also detected in normal endometrium and/or co-occurring endometriosis. KRAS mutations are more frequent in cases of adenomyosis with co-occurring endometriosis, low progesterone receptor (PR) expression, or progestin (dienogest; DNG) pretreatment. DNG's anti-proliferative effect is diminished via epigenetic silencing of PR in immortalized cells with mutant KRAS. Our genomic analyses suggest that adenomyotic lesions frequently contain KRAS mutations that may reduce DNG efficacy, and that adenomyosis and endometriosis may share molecular etiology, explaining their co-occurrence. These findings could lead to genetically guided therapy and/or relapse risk assessment after uterine-sparing surgery.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenomyosis / complications
  • Adenomyosis / genetics*
  • Adenomyosis / therapy
  • Adult
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Endometriosis / complications
  • Endometriosis / genetics*
  • Endometriosis / therapy
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Endometrium / surgery
  • Female
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Myometrium / pathology
  • Myometrium / surgery
  • Nandrolone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Nandrolone / pharmacology
  • Nandrolone / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • dienogest
  • Nandrolone
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)