Source
Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, EA 1833, ERTi, AP-HP Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of antiproliferative drugs (anastrozole, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) on the proliferation of endometriotic cells in vitro and in vivo.
DESIGN:
Ex vivo study on human endometrial and endometriotic cells in culture; establishment of a murine model using mice implanted with human endometriosis.
SETTING:
University research center.
PATIENT(S):
Ten patients with ovarian endometrioma, 10 patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis, and 10 patients without endometriosis.
INTERVENTION(S):
Stromal and epithelial cells were extracted from endometrial and endometriotic biopsies from patients with endometriosis and from patients without endometriosis. Cells were treated in vitro with anastrozole, methotrexate, progesterone, or 5-FU. Human endometriotic lesions were implanted in nude mice. Mice were treated with 5-FU or phosphate-buffered saline during 4 weeks before sacrifice and extraction of the endometriotic implants.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):
Stromal and epithelial cell proliferation and pathology score of endometriotic implants.
RESULT(S):
Although anastrozole, methotrexate, and progesterone were ineffective, 5-FU significantly decreased the proliferation of endometriotic cells in vitro and controlled the growth of both cells from ovarian endometrioma and deep infiltrating endometriosis.
CONCLUSION(S):
Considering common features between endometriotic cells and tumor cells, the use of 5-FU could be an option in the management of severe endometriosis.
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.