POLE-mutated clear cell cervical cancer associated with in-utero diethylstilbestrol exposure

Abstract

We report an extraordinary case of a woman, exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, who developed clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix with a concurrent polymerase-Ɛ (POLE) somatic mutation. The tumor exhibited the classic phenotypic characteristics of POLE-mutated tumors originating from other organs (e.g. the uterus or the colon) including increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and high PD-L1 expression and has remained in remission since completion of primary therapy for >4 years. This case highlights the importance of next generation sequencing in unraveling the biology of rare tumors and supports that the presence of a POLE mutation and the associated ultramutated state confers a unique phenotype of higher immunogenicity and possibly improved prognosis in a tissue-agnostic manner, i.e. regardless of the type of cancer where the POLE mutation is present. Keywords: Clear cell cancer, POLE mutation, DES exposure in utero, Cervical cancer, PD-L1 expression, Immunogenicity