GENETIC CHANGES IN THE PI3K/AKT PATHWAY IN HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS NEGATIVE CERVICAL CANCER CELLS

Abstract

The article investigates the frequency of genetic alterations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and their association with clinical characteristics among patients with cervical cancer who tested negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The study included 116 patients diagnosed between 2017 and 2020. Genetic analyses were performed on DNA extracted from tumor tissue. Alterations in the genes of the PAM pathway were assessed using PCR. The overall mutation frequency was 42,2%, with the most common alteration detected in the PIK3CA gene (24,1%). AKT1 and PTEN mutations were identified in 10,3% and 7.8% of patients, respectively. Patients from Baku exhibited a significantly higher frequency of PAM pathway mutations compared to those from other regions (45,8% vs 25,0%; p < 0,05). Mutation frequencies also showed statistically significant differences across age groups (p = 0,042), FIGO stages (p = 0,042), and histological types (p = 0.038). PIK3CA gene mutations were more common in early stages of disease, whereas AKT1 and PTEN mutations predominated in advanced stages. These findings indicate that genetic disruptions in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway demonstrate heterogeneous distribution depending on disease course, stage, and histological type in cervical cancer patients, highlighting their clinical relevance as both prognostic and potentially predictive biomarkers.