Biomarker – A specific feature in cells, like protein or DNA, that can help determine disease status, risk of developing cancers, and appropriate treatment options.^1,2

Biopsy – A procedure removing a piece of tissue from the body so it can be tested in a laboratory.³

Dilatation and curettage (D&C) – A procedure to remove samples of tissue from the inner lining of the uterus. The cervix is dilated, and a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) is inserted into the uterus to remove tissue. The tissue samples are checked under a microscope for signs of disease.⁴

Endometrial biopsy – The removal of tissue from the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) by inserting a thin, flexible tube through the cervix and into the uterus. The tube is used to gently scrape a small amount of tissue from the endometrium and then remove the tissue samples. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells.⁴

Endometrium – The inner lining of the uterus – a hollow, muscular organ in the female pelvis.⁴

Estrogen – A hormone made by the body. It helps the body develop and maintain female sex characteristics. Estrogen can affect the growth of some cancers, including endometrial cancer.⁶

FIGO stage – International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification system for gynecologic cancer tumors.⁷

Genetic Testing – Completed in a lab and looks for changes in genes/cells/DNA that may be a sign of a disease or condition, like cancer.⁸

Hysteroscopy – A procedure to look inside the uterus for abnormal areas. A hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue samples, which are checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.⁴

Lynch Syndrome – A type of inherited cancer syndrome associated with a genetic predisposition to different cancer types.⁹

Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR) – A mutation that can be found in endometrial cancer that indicates a cell may have problems when creating copies of DNA in new cells.¹⁰

Microsatellite Instability (MSI) – A change that occurs in certain cells, like cancer cells, where the number of repeated pieces of DNA in a short, repeated sequence (called a microsatellite) is different from what it was when the microsatellite was inherited.¹¹

Recurrence – Cancer that has come back after a period of time when the cancer was not detected.¹²

Sign – Something that can be observed by a healthcare provider during a physical exam or from a laboratory test that shows that a person may have a condition or disease. Signs can be things like fever, swelling, high blood pressure, etc.¹³

Symptom – A physical or mental experience that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms are felt by the patient and may be difficult to measure. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea, and pain.¹⁴

Uterus – The hollow, pear-shaped organ in the female pelvis where a fetus develops and grows.⁴