Molecular biology of gynaecological cancers

A broad understanding of the molecular abnormalities that underlie gynaecologic malignancies have emerged in the past few years. These molecular changes ultimately drive several hallmarks of cancer including aberrations in growth signals, evasion of apoptosis and immune surveillance, insensitivity to antigrowth signals, limitless replicative potential, sustained angiogenesis, and tissue invasion and metastases. Some of the key molecular aberrations include the DNA damage repair pathway in ovarian cancer, microsatellite instability in endometrial cancer, human papilloma virus-mediated molecular changes in lower genital tract carcinomas, and the role of anti-tumour immunity in all the cancers. This chapter highlights some of the recent molecular findings in gynaecologic malignancies, with an emphasis on clinically applicable developments.