GDF15 and carcinoma: Among genes related to EC pathogenesis, we found statistical increased expression in the group of Stage III-IV carcinomas and recurrences compared with healthy controls for BRAF, for the Wnt pathway component CTNNB1, for the TGF-beta superfamily cytokine GDF15, for PIK3CA, for NF-κB family member RELA, and for the RUNX transcription factor family member RUNX1, (Figure 2A).