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Abstract
Endometriosis affects approximately 190 million women and people assigned female at birth worldwide. It is a chronic, inflammatory, gynecologic disease marked by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, which in many patients is associated with debilitating painful symptoms. Patients with endometriosis are also at greater risk of infertility, emergence of fatigue, multisite pain, and other comorbidities. Thus, endometriosis is best understood as a condition with variable presentation and effects at multiple life stages. A long diagnostic delay after symptom onset is common, and persistence and recurrence of symptoms despite treatment is common. This review discusses the potential genetic, hormonal, and immunologic factors that lead to endometriosis, with a focus on current diagnostic and management strategies for gynecologists, general practitioners, and clinicians specializing in conditions for which patients with endometriosis are at higher risk. It examines evidence supporting the different surgical, pharmacologic, and non-pharmacologic approaches to treating patients with endometriosis and presents an easy to adopt step-by-step management strategy. As endometriosis is a multisystem disease, patients with the condition should ideally be offered a personalized, multimodal, interdisciplinary treatment approach. A priority for future discovery is determining clinically informative sub-classifications of endometriosis that predict prognosis and enhance treatment prioritization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Horne
- EXPPECT Edinburgh and MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stacey A Missmer
- Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Kvaskoff M, Mahamat-Saleh Y, Farland LV, Shigesi N, Terry KL, Harris HR, Roman H, Becker CM, As-Sanie S, Zondervan KT, Horne AW, Missmer SA. Endometriosis and cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 27:393-420. [PMID: 33202017 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is an often chronic, inflammatory gynaecologic condition affecting 190 million women worldwide. Studies have reported an elevated cancer risk among patients with endometriosis. However, prior research has included methodologic issues that impede valid and robust interpretation. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE We conducted a meta-analysis of studies investigating the association between endometriosis and cancer risk and analysed the results by methodologic characteristics. We discuss the implications of cancer screening in patients and management challenges faced by clinicians. SEARCH METHODS We searched PubMed and Embase databases for eligible studies from inception through 24 October 2019. We included cohort and case-control studies examining the association between endometriosis and cancer risk; cross-sectional studies and case reports were excluded. Publications had to present risk/rate/odds estimates with 95% CI. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate summary relative risks (SRR) and CIs. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed by the Q test and I2 statistics, and publication bias using Egger's and Begg's tests. Risk of bias and quality of the included studies were assessed using the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. OUTCOMES Forty-nine population-based case-control and cohort studies were included. Twenty-six studies were scored as having a 'serious'/'critical' risk of bias, and the remaining 23 'low'/'moderate'. Cancer-specific analyses showed a positive association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer risk (SRR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.68-2.22; n = 24 studies) that was strongest for clear cell (SRR = 3.44, 95% CI = 2.82-4.42; n = 5 studies) and endometrioid (SRR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.82-2.98; n = 5 studies) histotypes (Pheterogeneity < 0.0001), although with significant evidence of both heterogeneity across studies and publication bias (Egger's and Begg's P-values < 0.01). A robust association was observed between endometriosis and thyroid cancer (SRR = 1.39, 95% CI =1.24-1.57; n = 5 studies), a very small association with breast cancer (SRR = 1.04, 95% CI =1.00-1.09; n = 20 studies) and no association with colorectal cancer (SRR = 1.00, 95% CI =0.87-1.16; n = 5 studies). The association with endometrial cancer was not statistically significant (SRR = 1.23, 95% CI =0.97-1.57; n = 17 studies) overall and wholly null when restricted to prospective cohort studies (SRR = 0.99, 95% CI =0.72-1.37; n = 5 studies). The association with cutaneous melanoma was also non-significant (SRR = 1.17, 95% CI =0.97-1.41; n = 7 studies) but increased in magnitude and was statistically significant when restricted to studies with low/moderate risk of bias (SRR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.24-2.36, n = 2 studies). The most robust finding both in terms of statistical significance and magnitude of effect was an inverse association with cervical cancer (SRR = 0.68, 95% CI =0.56-0.82; n = 4 studies); however, this result has a high potential to reflect heightened access to detection of dysplasia for women who reached an endometriosis diagnosis and is thus likely not causal. Several additional cancer types were explored based on <4 studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Endometriosis was associated with a higher risk of ovarian and thyroid, and minimally (only 4% greater risk) with breast cancer, and with a lower risk of cervical cancer. However, this meta-analysis confirms that: a majority of studies had severe/critical risk of bias; there is impactful heterogeneity across studies-and for ovarian cancer, publication bias; and causal inference requires temporality, which in many studies was not considered. We discuss the implications of these potential associations from the perspectives of patients with endometriosis, clinicians involved in their care, and scientists investigating their long-term health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kvaskoff
- CESP, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Fac. de médecine - UVSQ, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France.,Gustave Roussy, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - Yahya Mahamat-Saleh
- CESP, Fac. de médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Fac. de médecine - UVSQ, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France.,Gustave Roussy, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - Leslie V Farland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Nina Shigesi
- Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kathryn L Terry
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Holly R Harris
- Program in Epidemiology, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Horace Roman
- Endometriosis Centre, Tivoli-Ducos Clinic, Bordeaux, France.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian M Becker
- Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sawsan As-Sanie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Krina T Zondervan
- Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew W Horne
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Stacey A Missmer
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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Sieberg CB, Lunde CE, Borsook D. Endometriosis and pain in the adolescent- striking early to limit suffering: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:866-876. [PMID: 31862211 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis, a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, is a debilitating disease, affecting millions of women and costing the United States approximately $78 billion annually in pain- related disability. It is also the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain (CPP), which is often unresponsive to existing treatments. Adolescent women with the disease are at particular risk as there are often significant diagnostic delays, which in turn can exacerbate pain. Research and treatment guidelines for adolescents with endometriosis are largely based on studies for adult women due to the limited number of studies focusing on adolescents. The current paper critically reviews the literature as it pertains to endometriosis pathophysiology, mechanisms contributing to CPP, and treatment implications and recommendations with a focus on gaps related to adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine B Sieberg
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N. Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, USA.
| | - Claire E Lunde
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N. Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, UK
| | - David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N. Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, USA
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Coloma JL, Martínez‐Zamora M, Collado A, Gràcia M, Rius M, Quintas L, Carmona F. Prevalence of fibromyalgia among women with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019; 146:157-163. [DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Coloma
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Maria‐Angeles Martínez‐Zamora
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) Barcelona Spain
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Antonio Collado
- Service of RheumatologyInstitut Clínic d'Especialitats Mèdiques i QuirúrgiquesHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Meritxell Gràcia
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Mariona Rius
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Lara Quintas
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Francisco Carmona
- Department of GynecologyInstitut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and NeonatologyHospital Clínic of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) Barcelona Spain
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
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Surrey ES, Soliman AM, Johnson SJ, Davis M, Castelli-Haley J, Snabes MC. Risk of Developing Comorbidities Among Women with Endometriosis: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2018; 27:1114-1123. [DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. Surrey
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado
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Zuin M, Rigatelli G, Stellin G, Faggian G, Roncon L. Should women with endometriosis be screened for coronary artery disease? Eur J Intern Med 2016; 35:e19-e20. [PMID: 27567041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zuin
- Department of Cardiology, Rovigo General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy; Section of Internal and Cardiopulmonary Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Rigatelli
- Section of Adult Congenital and Adult Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Endoluminal Interventions, Rovigo General Hospital, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Stellin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rovigo General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Faggian
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Loris Roncon
- Department of Cardiology, Rovigo General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy.
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Mu F, Rich-Edwards J, Rimm EB, Spiegelman D, Missmer SA. Endometriosis and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2016; 9:257-64. [PMID: 27025928 PMCID: PMC4940126 DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.115.002224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecologic disease associated with systemic chronic inflammation, heightened oxidative stress, and atherogenic lipid profile that may increase women's risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS We examined the prospective association between laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and subsequent CHD among 116 430 women in the Nurses' Health Study II (1989-2009). Participants with a history of heart disease and stroke were excluded. When compared with women without endometriosis, women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis had a higher risk of myocardial infarction (relative risk, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.98), angiographically confirmed angina (1.91; 1.59-2.29), coronary artery bypass graft surgery/coronary angioplasty procedure/stent (1.35; 1.08-1.69), or any of these CHD end points combined (1.62; 1.39-1.89), independent of potential demographic, anthropometric, family history, reproductive, and lifestyle confounders. Relative risk for the combined CHD end point was highest among women aged ≤40 years (3.08; 2.02-4.70) and decreased as age increased (40< age ≤50 years, 1.65; 1.35-2.02; 50< age ≤55 years, 1.44; 1.07-1.94; and age >55 years, 0.98; 0.56-1.72; P value, test for heterogeneity=0.001). Having had a hysterectomy/oophorectomy was associated with higher risk of combined CHD compared with not having had a hysterectomy/oophorectomy (1.51; 1.34-1.71). A percentage of 42 of the association between endometriosis and CHD could be explained by greater frequency of hysterectomy/oophorectomy and earlier age at surgery after endometriosis diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS In this large, prospective cohort, laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis was associated with increased risk of CHD. The association was strongest among young women. Hysterectomy/oophorectomy was associated with higher risk of CHD and could partially explain the association between endometriosis and CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Mu
- From the Department of Epidemiology (F.M., J.R.-E., E.B.R., D.S., S.A.M.), Department of Nutrition (E.B.R., D.S.), and Department of Biostatistics (D.S.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (J.R.-E.); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.B.R., S.A.M.) and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (S.A.M.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
| | - Janet Rich-Edwards
- From the Department of Epidemiology (F.M., J.R.-E., E.B.R., D.S., S.A.M.), Department of Nutrition (E.B.R., D.S.), and Department of Biostatistics (D.S.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (J.R.-E.); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.B.R., S.A.M.) and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (S.A.M.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- From the Department of Epidemiology (F.M., J.R.-E., E.B.R., D.S., S.A.M.), Department of Nutrition (E.B.R., D.S.), and Department of Biostatistics (D.S.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (J.R.-E.); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.B.R., S.A.M.) and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (S.A.M.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Donna Spiegelman
- From the Department of Epidemiology (F.M., J.R.-E., E.B.R., D.S., S.A.M.), Department of Nutrition (E.B.R., D.S.), and Department of Biostatistics (D.S.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (J.R.-E.); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.B.R., S.A.M.) and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (S.A.M.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Stacey A Missmer
- From the Department of Epidemiology (F.M., J.R.-E., E.B.R., D.S., S.A.M.), Department of Nutrition (E.B.R., D.S.), and Department of Biostatistics (D.S.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (J.R.-E.); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.B.R., S.A.M.) and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (S.A.M.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Kvaskoff M, Mu F, Terry KL, Harris HR, Poole EM, Farland L, Missmer SA. Endometriosis: a high-risk population for major chronic diseases? Hum Reprod Update 2015; 21:500-16. [PMID: 25765863 PMCID: PMC4463000 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite an estimated prevalence of 10% in women, the etiology of endometriosis remains poorly understood. Over recent decades, endometriosis has been associated with risk of several chronic diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, asthma/atopic diseases and cardiovascular diseases. A deeper understanding of these associations is needed as they may provide new leads into the causes or consequences of endometriosis. This review summarizes the available epidemiological findings on the associations between endometriosis and other chronic diseases and discusses hypotheses for underlying mechanisms, potential sources of bias and methodological complexities. METHODS We performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed/Medline and ISI Web of Knowledge databases for all studies reporting on the associations between endometriosis and other diseases published in English through to May 2014, using numerous search terms. We additionally examined the reference lists of all identified papers to capture any additional articles that were not identified through computer searches. RESULTS We identified 21 studies on the associations between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, 14 for breast cancer, 8 for endometrial cancer, 4 for cervical cancer, 12 for cutaneous melanoma and 3 for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as 9 on the links between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases, 6 on the links with asthma and atopic diseases, and 4 on the links with cardiovascular diseases. Endometriosis patients were reported to be at higher risk of ovarian and breast cancers, cutaneous melanoma, asthma, and some autoimmune, cardiovascular and atopic diseases, and at decreased risk of cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS Increasing evidence suggests that endometriosis patients are at higher risk of several chronic diseases. Although the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood, the available data to date suggest that endometriosis is not harmless with respects to women's long-term health. If these relationships are confirmed, these findings may have important implications in screening practices and in the management and care of endometriosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kvaskoff
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), 'Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health' Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France Cancer Control Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Fan Mu
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kathryn L Terry
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Holly R Harris
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, The National Institute for Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth M Poole
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Leslie Farland
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stacey A Missmer
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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9
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Gori I, Rodriguez Y, Pellegrini C, Achtari C, Hornung D, Chardonnens E, Wunder D, Fiche M, Canny GO. Augmented epithelial multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 expression in peritoneal endometriosis: regulation by lipoxin A(4). Fertil Steril 2013; 99:1965-73.e2. [PMID: 23472950 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the expression of the prostaglandin (PG) E(2) transporter multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue from endometriosis patients with that of control subjects and to examine whether MRP4 is regulated by the antiinflammatory lipid lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) in endometriotic epithelial cells. DESIGN Molecular analysis in human samples and a cell line. SETTING Two university hospitals and a private clinic. PATIENT(S) A total of 59 endometriosis patients and 32 age- and body mass index-matched control subjects undergoing laparoscopy or hysterectomy. INTERVENTION(S) Normal, eutopic, and ectopic endometrial biopsies as well as peritoneal fluid were obtained during surgery performed during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. 12Z endometriotic epithelial cells were used for in vitro mechanistic studies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Tissue MRP4 mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and localization was analyzed with the use of immunohistochemistry. Cellular MRP4 mRNA and protein were quantified by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. PGE(2) was measured in peritoneal fluid and cell supernatants using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RESULT(S) MRP4 was expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium, where it was overexpressed in peritoneal lesions and localized in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells. LXA(4) attenuated MRP4 mRNA and protein levels in endometriotic epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, while not affecting the expression of enzymes involved in PGE(2) metabolism. Investigations employing receptor antagonists and small interfering RNA revealed that this occurred through estrogen receptor α. Accordingly, LXA(4) treatment inhibited extracellular PGE(2) release. CONCLUSION(S) We report for the first time that MRP4 is expressed in human endometrium, elevated in peritoneal endometriosis, and modulated by LXA(4) in endometriotic epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Gori
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Medical Genetics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Pellegrini C, Gori I, Achtari C, Hornung D, Chardonnens E, Wunder D, Fiche M, Canny GO. The expression of estrogen receptors as well as GREB1, c-MYC, and cyclin D1, estrogen-regulated genes implicated in proliferation, is increased in peritoneal endometriosis. Fertil Steril 2012; 98:1200-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.06.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease characterized by implantation of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Early familial aggregation and twin studies noted a higher risk of endometriosis among relatives. Studies on the roles of the environment, genetics and aberrant regulation in the endometrium and endometriotic lesions of women with endometriosis suggest that endometriosis arises from the interplay between genetic variants and environmental factors. Elucidating the hereditary component has proven difficult because multiple genes seem to produce a susceptibility to developing endometriosis. Molecular techniques, including linkage and genome-wide analysis, have identified candidate genes located near known loci related to development and regulation of the female reproductive tract. As new candidate genes are discovered and hereditary pathways identified using technologies such as genome-wide analysis, the possibility of prevention and treatment becomes more tangible for millions of women affected by endometriosis. Here, we discuss the advances of genetic research in endometriosis and describe technologies that have contributed to the current understanding of the genetic variability in endometriosis, variability that includes regulatory polymorphisms in key genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica C Dun
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Somigliana E, Viganò P, Abbiati A, Gentilini D, Parazzini F, Benaglia L, Vercellini P, Fedele L. 'Here comes the sun': pigmentary traits and sun habits in women with endometriosis. Hum Reprod 2010; 25:728-33. [PMID: 20083484 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dep453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited but interesting evidence suggesting that endometriosis may be associated with specific pigmentary traits and sun habits. In this case-control study, we aimed to further clarify this point. MATERIALS AND METHODS Consecutive patients with a first laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis according to Holt and Weiss criteria were selected as cases. Controls were women who underwent laparoscopy during the same study period, but who were found to be free of the disease. Selected women were interviewed and examined by two trained physicians. An unconditional logistic regression model that included age and baseline variables significantly differing between the two groups was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (OR). RESULTS There were 98 women with endometriosis and 94 controls selected. Overall, women with the disease had a more photo-sensitive phenotype and were exposed less to sun or ultraviolet radiation. A statistically significant difference was documented for eye color, skin reaction to first sun exposure, freckles score and the use of tanning creams. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for the disease was 1.95 (1.02-3.72) for women with green/blue eyes, 2.19 (1.12-4.28) for those who frequently/always had skin burn reaction to first sun exposure, 5.67 (1.98-16.24) for those with a higher number of freckles and 0.35 (0.15-0.85) for the use of tanning creams. CONCLUSIONS Women with endometriosis have a specific photo-sensitive phenotype and protect themselves more from the sun. This latter habit may be consequent to the former. We speculate that there is a shared genetic background between pigmentation and endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Somigliana
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Neonatology, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli and Regina Elena, Milan, Italy
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