ENDOMETRIAL CANCER (G SEL, SECTION EDITOR) Endometrial Cancer General Perspectives, Epidemiology Görker SEL 1 & Müge Harma 2 & Mehmet İbrahim Harma 2 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract Purpose of Review This paper focuses on the epidemiologic factors that are effective on the pathology of the endometrial malignancy. Based on previous reviews and recent articles on endometrial cancer, we sought to define risk factors and related diseases to endometrial malignancies. Recent Findings Previous studies have shown that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity is stimulated by diverse oncogenes and growth factor receptors, and elevated PI3K signaling is considered a hallmark of cancer. A major antagonist of PI3K activity is phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a tumor suppressor which is often mutated or lost in type I endometrial cancer cells. Summary Endometrial cancer is still a problem in developed countries since adiposity and sedentary way of life. However, we have not found a feasible way to screen endometrial malignancies. In the future, with the advancing of genetic studies, screening could be applicable. Keywords Endometrium . Cancer . Epidemiology . Obesity . Malignancy . HNPCC Introduction The endometrium is the inner most layer of the uterus adjacent the uterine cavity and features both an inner basal and outer functional layer, most endometrial malignancies originated from the outer columnar epithelial cell layer [1]. Surgical stag- ing is required in endometrial cancer consisting removal of the uterus, cervix, adnexa, and pelvic and para-aortic lymph node tissues [2]. Histological grading of endometrial tumor is based on architectural and cytological atypia/abnormality of the tu- mor cells [3]. Cancer of the endometrium is the most common type of gynecologic malignancy accounting for approximately 6% of malignancies [4] in developed countries, and it is the sec- ond most prevalent gynecologic cancer, after cervical cancer, in the developing world. While part of the difference in prev- alence between the developed and developing world is due to inadequate screening for cervical cancer in the developing world, on the other hand dietary factors are also contributors with high-fat content diet and associated adiposity being much more common in the developed countries. Overall, cancer of the endometrium is the fourth most prevalent can- cer in women after breast, colorectal, and lung [ 5, 6]. According to the National Cancer Institute in 2016, preva- lence of this cancer is approximately 772,245 in the USA [4]. In the USA, uterine cancer is the most prevalent gyneco- logical cancer accounting for 61,880 new cases per year (3.5% of all new cancer cases) and 12,160 deaths (2.0% of all cancer-related mortalities) [4, 7]. Endometrial cancer is mainly diagnosed in postmenopausal population, with the average age at diagnosis in the USA being 62 years old. Thirty-four percent of cases are diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 64 [4]. Endometrial cancer prevalence also differs between ethnic groups. According to the SGO Endometrial Cancer Working Group, women of European ethnic origin population have a 2.88% lifetime risk of developing endo- metrial cancer. This compares to the 1.69% risk among wom- en of African ethnic origin. The African-American popula- tion is more likely to have type II endometrial cancer; non- endometrioid, high-grade tumors and more advanced stage of disease is found in Caucasian women [8]. Generally, type This article is part of the Topical Collection on Endometrial Cancer * Görker SEL Gorkersel@gmail.com 1 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey 2 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Gynecological Oncology, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-019-00272-x Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports (2019) 8:136–138 Published online: 14 October 2019