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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence
Published on: October 25, 2011
POLE-mutated endometrial carcinoma with extreme morphological and molecular heterogeneity: spatial clonal divergence
Antonio d'Amati1, Elisa De Paolis2, Valentina Iacobelli3
1Anatomical Pathology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. damatiantonio@yahoo.it.
Abstract:
POLE-mutated endometrial carcinomas are typically associated with favorable prognosis, yet marked spatial heterogeneity may complicate biological and clinical interpretation. We report a unique triphasic carcinoma composed of endometrioid, dedifferentiated-like, and sarcomatoid-like components with distinct morphologic and immunophenotypic profiles. Multiregional sequencing demonstrated a shared pathogenic POLE V411L mutation across all components, confirming a common clonal origin. Progressive molecular divergence was observed, with subclonal MSH6 alteration in the endometrioid region, complete MSH6 loss and dramatic tumor mutational burden escalation in the dedifferentiated-like and sarcomatoid-like components, and acquisition of TP53 and ARID1A truncating mutations restricted to the sarcomatoid-like compartment. Despite high-grade transformation and stage IIC disease, microsatellite stability was maintained, supporting a POLE-driven hypermutator phenotype. This case provides direct morphologic and molecular evidence of spatial clonal evolution in a multiple-classifier endometrial carcinoma. The clinical implications of this spatial heterogeneity remain uncertain and warrant further investigation.
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