Endometriosis is a common disease but, due to the wide spectrum of symptoms, diagnosis can be delayed 8–12 years. Laparoscopy is nowadays the gold standard for diagnosis. A less invasive method could shorten the time to diagnosis. The aim of this review is to systematically summarize the literature regarding possible less invasive methods for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, were searched to identify relevant studies; 53 publications contributed to this review. Low invasive tests including imaging, genetic tests, biomarkers, or miRNAs could be the key for establishing a less invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. The findings generally support that different methods can differently contribute to the diagnosis, also depending on the type of endometriosis. For example, transvaginal ultrasound has a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 96% in the diagnosis of endometrioma, while superficial/peritoneal endometriosis cannot be detected with imaging processes. Although several non-invasive tests including imaging, genetic tests, biomarkers, or miRNAs show promising diagnostic potential, further research is required before they can be recommended in routine clinical care. The combination of low invasive tests may be the solution to a reliable low invasive diagnosis of endometriosis.

Introduction: Heparan sulphate proteoglycan syndecan-1 modulates cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and angiogenesis. It is a coreceptor for the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-met, and its coexpression with E-cadherin is synchronously regulated during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In breast cancer, changes in the expression of syndecan-1, E-cadherin and c-met correlate with poor prognosis. In this study we evaluated whether coexpression of these functionally linked prognostic markers constitutes an expression signature in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast that may promote cell proliferation and (lymph)angiogenesis. Methods: Expression of syndecan-1, E-cadherin and c-met was detected immunohistochemically using a tissue microarray in tumour specimens from 200 DCIS patients. Results were correlated with the expression patterns of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic markers. Coexpression of the three prognostic markers was evaluated in human breast cancer cells by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR. Results: Coexpression and membrane colocalization of the three markers was confirmed in MCF-7 cells. E-cadherin expression decreased, and c-met expression increased progressively in more aggressive cell lines. Tissue microarray analysis revealed strong positive staining of tumour cells for syndecan-1 in 72%, E-cadherin in 67.8% and c-met in 48.6% of DCIS. E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with c-met and syndecan-1. Expression of c-met and syndecan-1 was significantly more frequent in the subgroup of patients with pure DCIS than in those with DCIS and a coexisting invasive carcinoma. Levels of c-met and syndecan-1 expression were associated with HER2 expression. Expression of c-met significantly correlated with expression of endothelin A and B receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1, whereas E-cadherin expression correlated significantly with endothelin A receptor, VEGF-A and VEGF-C staining. Conclusion: Syndecan-1, E-cadherin and c-met constitute a marker signature associated with angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors in DCIS. This coexpression may reflect a state of parallel activation of different signal transduction pathways, promoting tumour cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Our findings have implications for future therapeutic approaches in terms of a multiple target approach, which may be useful early in breast cancer progression.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting reproductive-aged women, characterized by the growth of ectopic endometrial tissue. Despite being benign, endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC). Ovarian cancer is rare, but more common in women with endometriosis, particularly endometrioid and clear-cell carcinomas. Factors such as hormonal imbalance, reproductive history, environmental exposures, and genetic predisposition contribute to the malignant transformation of endometriosis. Thus, understanding potential risk factors causing malignancy is crucial. Over the past few decades, various genetic mutations, microRNAs, as well as tumor microenvironmental factors have been identified, impacting pathways like PI3K/AKT/mTOR, DNA repair mechanisms, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Thus, this review aims to summarize molecular studies involved in EAOC pathogenesis as potential therapeutic targets. However, further research is needed to better understand the molecular and environmental factors driving EAOC development, to target the susceptibility of endometriotic lesions to malignant progression, and to identify effective therapeutic strategies.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by lack of expression of both estrogen and progesterone receptor as well as lack of overexpression or amplification of HER2. Despite an increased probability of response to chemotherapy, many patients resistant to current chemotherapy regimens suffer from a worse prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. However, molecular determinants of response to chemotherapy specific to TNBC remain largely unknown. Thus, there is a high demand for biomarkers potentially stratifying triple negative breast cancer patients for neoadjuvant chemotherapies or alternative therapies.