Artificial Intelligence and Digital Pathology for Molecular Classification of Endometrial Cancer

초록

Endometrial cancer is one of the most rapidly increasing gynaecological malignancies worldwide. The clinically adapted molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma, derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas, comprises four major subtypes: POLE-mutated, mismatch repair-deficient, p53-abnormal expression, and no specific molecular profile. Its clinical implementation has improved prognostic stratification, risk assessment, and treatment decision-making in patients with endometrial carcinoma. However, current workflows rely on immunohistochemistry and targeted sequencing, which increase costs, turnaround times, and infrastructure requirements, thereby limiting their universal adoption in routine clinical practice. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning models capable of predicting molecular features directly from H&E-stained whole-slide images, have emerged as promising tools for precision oncology. In addition to reproducing established molecular classification, these approaches may reveal previously unrecognised biomarker-defined histologic patterns that are difficult to detect using conventional methods. This article synthesises the current evidence on AI-based molecular classification in endometrial carcinoma from a pathologist-centred perspective, emphasising the biological rationale, methodological limitations, and future directions for clinical translation.

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