Microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern invasion is mainly associated with isolated tumor cell pattern metastases in FIGO grade I endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC).

Abstract While many studies have evaluated the impact of mismatch repair protein loss of expression (MMR LOE) or microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern of myometrial invasion as individual factors in endometrial cancer, we analyzed the combined impact of both. We reviewed every case of FIGO grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancers (EEC) from our institution, between 2011 and 2015, that had a sentinel lymph node biopsy and/or a lymphadenectomy, and examined the following data: age, myometrial infiltration, MELF infiltration, lymphovascular space invasion and lymph node status. These cases were then grouped according to the absence of lymph node metastases, the presence of isolated tumor cells (ITC) lymph node metastases, or the presence of non-ITC metastases. Among the 127 cases that were in our study, 105 patients did not have nodal metastases, whereas 22 patients showed metastases, of which 11 were ITC. MMR LOE was only significantly associated with a higher odds ratio of metastases (OR =7.44; P<.001). MELF was only associated with a higher odds ratio of ITC-pattern metastases (OR =32.3; P<.001). This study distinguished the effects of MELF and MMR LOE on the risk of metastases in FIGO grade 1 EEC. Further research on the clinical impact of MELF and ITC-pattern metastases is warranted to better guide clinicians on the management of patients with FIGO grade 1 EEC harboring such characteristics which are still considered low-risk cancer.