What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Adenocarcinoma, HPV-Independent, Gastric Type, of the Uterine Cervix
• HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Cervical Adenocarcinoma
• Human Papillomavirus Independent Gastric-Type Adenocarcinoma of Cervix

What is HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix? (Definition/Background Information)

• HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix is a type of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the uterine cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus/womb. It is a very common cancer in women worldwide. The cervix is the tube-like structure that connects the uterus to the vagina. Almost all cervical cancers are believed to originate from a premalignant lesion
• The development of cervical cancer occurs slowly and the process of precancerous changes leading to invasive cancer, generally takes place over decades. Hence, periodic screening of women with Pap smears helps in early detection and management of any precancerous change, before a full-blown malignancy develops. Cervical cancer is frequently preventable through early screening programs and HPV vaccinations
• Adenocarcinomas arise from the glandular cells of the inner portion of the cervix (the endocervix). After squamous cell cancers, cervical adenocarcinomas are the second most common type of tumors affecting the cervix. This differentiation is based on the appearance of cells when observed under a microscope by the pathologist. Almost all variants of cervical adenocarcinomas are related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Cervical Adenocarcinoma is the development of invasive carcinoma in the background of HPV-negative status i.e., it is not caused by HPV-related infection. Between 10-15% of all cervical adenocarcinomas are the gastric-type variants, an aggressive subtype that is observed in a wide age range of women (average age 50-55 years). Most cases are reported from the country of Japan
• The cause of development of HPV-Independent Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix, Gastric-Type is not well-understood. The malignancy is associated with the genetic disorder Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. STK11 and TP53 gene mutations are noted in many cases. The condition may develop from precursor lesions such as adenocarcinoma in situ, gastric type or atypical lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia
• These polypoid tumors are comparatively large in size (average size 3.8 cm); and tumor infiltration causes the cervix to take a barrel-like form. The tumors can ulcerate. HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix may be accompanied by watery vaginal discharge and abnormal bleeding. A diagnosis of this cancer type is reportedly difficult. It may involve colposcopy and a cervical biopsy procedure
• A treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Cervical Adenocarcinoma is based on the cancer staging and presenting signs and symptoms. This may involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The outcomes are generally poor as it is an aggressive malignancy that is usually detected during the advanced stages, when it presents destructive invasion including metastasis to the local and regional sites/organs