Phosphatase and Tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor gene. Loss of its function is the most frequent genetic alteration in endometrioid endometrial cancers (70–80%) and high grade tumors (90%). We assessed the sensitivity of endometrial cancer cell lines to PARP inhibitors (olaparib and BMN-673) and a PI3K inhibitor (BKM-120), alone or in combination, in the context of their PTEN mutation status. We also highlighted a direct pathway linking PTEN to DNA repair. Using endometrial cancer cellular models with known PTEN status, we evaluated their homologous recombination (HR) functionality by RAD51 foci formation assay. The 50% Inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PI3K and PARP inhibitors in these cells was assessed, and western blotting was performed to determine the expression of proteins involved in the PI3K/mTOR pathway. Moreover, we explored the interaction between RAD51 and PI3K/mTOR by immunofluorescence. Next, the combination effect of PI3K and PARP inhibitors on cell proliferation was evaluated by a clonogenic assay. Cells with mutated PTEN showed over-activation of the PI3K/mTOR pathway. These cells were more sensitive to PARP inhibition compared to PTEN wild-type cells. In addition, PI3K inhibitor treatment reduced RAD51 foci formation in PTEN mutated cells, and sensitized these cells to PARP inhibitor. Targeting both PARP and PI3K might lead to improved personalized therapeutic approaches in endometrial cancer patients with PTEN mutations. Understanding the complex interaction of PTEN mutations with DNA repair in endometrial cancer will help to better select patients that are likely to respond to some of the new and costly targeted therapies.

Ovarian cancer is the gynecological cancer with the worst prognosis and the highest mortality rate because 75% of patients are diagnosed with advanced stage III–IV disease. About 50% of patients are now treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS). In that context, there is a need for accurate predictors of tumor primary chemosensitivity, as it may impact the feasibility of subsequent IDS. Across seven studies with more than 12,000 patients, including six large randomized clinical trials and a national cancer registry, along with a mega-analysis database with 5842 patients, the modeled CA-125 ELIMination rate constant K (KELIM), the calculation of which is based on the longitudinal kinetics during the first three cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy, was shown to be a reproducible indicator of tumor intrinsic chemosensitivity. Indeed, KELIM is strongly associated with the likelihood of complete IDS, subsequent platinum-free interval, progression-free survival, and overall survival, along with the efficacy of maintenance treatment with bevacizumab or veliparib. As a consequence, KELIM might be used to guide more subtly the medical and surgical treatments in a first-line setting. Moreover, it could be used to identify the patients with poorly chemosensitive disease, who will be the best candidates for innovative treatments meant to reverse the chemoresistance, such as cell cycle inhibitors or immunotherapy.

Objectives: Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) of the rectosigmoid is associated with painful symptoms. When medical treatment is ineffective, surgical resection remains the standard treatment, despite significant risk of adverse events. High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive ablative procedure. Focal One® is a transrectal HIFU (TR‐HIFU) device used in prostate cancer treatment. The primary objective of this study was to confirm the feasibility of treatment with TR‐HIFU in patients presenting with posterior DIE with rectosigmoid involvement. We also assessed its safety and clinical efficacy in this context.Methods: This was a non‐controlled, prospective, Phase‐I clinical trial in a French University Hospital which is a multidisciplinary center for management of endometriosis. Included were patients older than 25 years, without plans to conceive within 6 months, who presented with a single lesion of posterior DIE, with rectosigmoid invasion, after failure of hormonal therapy. All lesions were assessed preoperatively using transvaginal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients completed questionnaires on gynecological and intestinal symptoms (similar to a visual analog scale (VAS)), and on quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item short‐form survey (SF‐36) and, for the second half of patients recruited, symptom scoring system for constipation (KESS), female sexual function index (FSFI) and endometriosis health profile short‐version score (EHP‐5)), before, and at 1, 3 and 6 months after, TR‐HIFU treatment with a Focal One real‐time ultrasound‐guided HIFU device.Results: Twenty‐three consecutive patients were included in the study between September 2015 and October 2019. All 23 lesions were visualized, giving a detection rate of 100%. Twenty lesions were treated (‘feasibility rate’, 87.0%): in 13 the whole lesion was treated and in seven the lesion was treated partially. The mean duration of the TR‐HIFU procedure was 55.6 min. We observed a significant improvement in VAS score at 6 months, with differences relative to preoperative scores as follows, for: dysmenorrhea (–3.6, P = 0.004), dyspareunia (–2.4, P = 0.006), diarrhea (–3.0, P = 0.006), constipation (–3.0, P = 0.002), dyschezia (–3.2, P = 0.003), false urge to defecate (–3.3, P = 0.007), posterior pelvic pain (–3.8, P = 0.002) and asthenia (–3.8, P = 0.002). There was also a significant improvement in the SF‐36 score, with an increase at 6 months relative to the preoperative score in both the physical component summary (+ 9.3%, P = 0.002) and mental component summary (+ 10.9%, P = 0.017). No major complications occurred during or after any procedure.Conclusions: TR‐HIFU therapy for posterior DIE is feasible. If its efficacy and safety are confirmed, it could be a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of rectosigmoid endometriosis. © 2019 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Impairment of homologous recombination (HR) is found in close to 50 % of ovarian and breast cancer. Tumors with BRCA1 mutations show increased expression of the Insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R). We previously have shown that inhibition of IGF-1R results in growth inhibition and apoptosis of ovarian tumor cells. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between HR and sensitivity to IGF-1R inhibition. Further, we hypothesized that IGF-1R inhibition might sensitize HR proficient cancers to Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Using ovarian and breast cancer cellular models with known BRCA1 status, we evaluated their HR functionality by RAD51 foci formation assay. The 50 % lethal concentration (LC50) of Insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor kinase inhibitor (IGF-1Rki) in these cells was assessed, and western immunoblotting was performed to determine the expression of proteins involved in the IGF-1R pathway. Moreover, IGF-1R inhibitors were added on HR proficient cell lines to assess mRNA and protein expression of RAD51 by qPCR and western blot. Also, we explored the interaction between RAD51 and Insulin receptor substance 1 (IRS-1) by immunoprecipitation. Next, combination effect of IGF-1R and PARP inhibitors was evaluated by clonogenic assay. Cells with mutated/methylated BRCA1 showed an impaired HR function, and had an overactivation of the IGF-1R pathway. These cells were more sensitive to IGF-1R inhibition compared to HR proficient cells. In addition, the IGF-IR inhibitor reduced RAD51 expression at mRNA and protein levels in HR proficient cells, and sensitized these cells to PARP inhibitor. Targeting IGF-1R might lead to improved personalized therapeutic approaches in cancer patients with HR deficiency. Targeting both PARP and IGF-1R might increase the clinical efficacy in HR deficient patients and increase the population of patients who may benefit from PARP inhibitors.