PI3KCA mutations in uterine cervix carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Squamous cervical carcinoma represents an infection-associated malignancy that produces a high mortality when metastatic or recurrent after primary local treatment. There is an urgent need for new therapies for this cancer. Molecular lesions in cervical cancer may provide opportunities for targeted therapies development. Methods: Publicly available data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to define the molecular landscape of squamous cervical carcinomas with and without mutations of PIK3CA, the gene encoding the alpha catalytic subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K). Associations with alterations in other critical genes and pathways of cancer and the total mutation burden and copy number alteration burden of cervical cancers were examined. Results: Mutations in PIK3CA are observed in 27.1% of squamous cervical cancers. PIK3CA represents the most frequently mutated gene in these cancers. Mutations in PIK3CA are associated with higher rates of mutations in other genes of important cancer-associated pathways such as the tyrosine kinase receptors/K-Ras/BRAF/MAPK and the Wnt/β catenin pathway. In addition, PIK3CA mutated cervical cancers display a higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) than non-mutated cancers. Conclusion: Frequent mutations of PIK3CA gene in squamous cervical carcinomas may represent an opportunity for targeted therapies development both inhibiting the PI3K kinase and associated pathway defects. Increased TMB may additionally confer immunotherapy sensitivity.