Profiling of HER2, KRAS, and PIK3CA mutations in uterine cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma and implications for oncogenic driver targeting therapy

Purpose

Dysregulated HER2-mediated RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling drive uncontrolled cell growth and tumorigenesis. Following our prior report of frequent HER2 mutations in advanced uterine cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), this study expands the genomic landscape by investigating KRAS and PIK3CA as potential therapeutic targets in a cohort of 12 Taiwanese women with cervical NEC.

Methods

We analyzed 12 histologically confirmed cervical NEC tumor samples from Taiwanese patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using a custom Qiagen GeneRead DNAseq Targeted Panels V2, a clinically relevant tumor panel to detect mutations in key oncogenes. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, followed by variant analysis to identify pathogenic alterations.

Results

Beyond HER2 mutations (41.67 %, 5/12), we detected pathogenic alterations in KRAS (16.67 %, 2/12) and PIK3CA (16.67 %, 2/12) within the same cohort. Concurrent mutations were observed in HER2/KRAS (8.3 %, 1/12) and HER2/PIK3CA (8.3 %, 1/12), indicating potential cooperative effects.

Conclusion

This study identifies HER2, KRAS, and PIK3CA as potentially critical drivers in cervical NEC, with their co-occurrence highlighting the role of RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in pathogenesis. Dual pathway inhibition with multi-target therapies may enhance efficacy and address resistance in this aggressive, treatment-limited disease. Molecular profiling is essential for precision oncology, paving the way for validating these findings in larger cohorts and developing multi-pathway strategies to improve survival and quality of life.