Research Supports WHO’s Exclusion of Primary Cervical Serous Carcinoma
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Pathology (JCTP) reinforces the 2020 World Health Institution (WHO) classification’s decision to remove primary cervical serous carcinoma as a distinct entity. The research,conducted retrospectively on 59 cases originally diagnosed as “serous carcinoma” or “high-grade serous carcinoma” from cervical or endocervical biopsies (2013-2023),found that the vast majority of these tumors originate elsewhere in the upper genital tract.Researchers steadfast that 96% of the tumors were secondary, stemming from either the endometrium (47 cases) or the tubo-ovarian region (4 cases). Only one case was confirmed as a primary cervical carcinoma.The study utilized clinical data,radiologic findings,histologic re-evaluation,immunohistochemical profiling,and targeted next-generation sequencing to reach its conclusions.
Key findings included aberrant p53 expression and diffuse p16 positivity across all tumors. WT-1 expression was consistent in tubo-ovarian tumors (100%) but present in only 12% of endometrial cases. Frequent estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity were observed in endometrial tumors, while human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was positive in 31% of cases. Molecular analysis confirmed TP53 mutations and other alterations characteristic of uterine serous carcinoma.
These results support the WHO’s 2020 classification change and highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis to ensure appropriate patient management. The study suggests that some endocervical adenocarcinomas can mimic serous carcinoma, further emphasizing the need for careful evaluation.
The JCTP, the official scientific journal of the Chinese American Pathologists Association (CAPA), publishes peer-reviewed research relevant to clinical and translational pathology, encompassing both anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as basic science related to disease pathogenesis and diagnostic techniques. The full study is available at: https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2771-165X/JCTP-2025-00023.
