Oncogenic Activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Signet Ring Stromal Cell Tumor of the Ovary

Signet ring stromal cell tumor (SRSCT) of the ovary is a very rare benign ovarian neoplasm. To date, no underlying genetic mechanism has been identified. In this study, 50 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes were evaluated for mutations in a typical SRSCT using the next-generation DNA sequencing approach. An in-frame deletion of 30 nucleotides in the glycogen serine kinase-3 beta phosphorylation region of the beta-catenin gene (CTNNB1) was identified, and the finding was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This deletion (c.68_97del) at the protein level would lead to a p.Ser23_Ser33delinsThr oncogenic-type mutation. Subsequent immunohistochemistry showed prominent nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in tumor cells. Thus, mutational activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway could be a crucial event in the molecular pathogenesis of SRSCT of the ovary. These findings may also assist in the diagnosis of this rare tumor.