Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 10 June 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5728, pp. 1589 - 1592
DOI: 10.1126/science.1112063
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Review

Uterine Fibroids: The Elephant in the Room

Cheryl Lyn Walker1 and Elizabeth A. Stewart2

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) have historically been viewed as important chiefly as the major indication for hysterectomy. As new therapies are developed, the heterogeneity of this disease becomes therapeutically relevant. An awareness of the role of genetics, the extracellular matrix, and hormones in tumor etiology is key to understanding this disease.

1 Department of Carcinogenesis, University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Park Road 1C, Smithville, TX 78957, USA.
2 Center for Uterine Fibroids, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Presence, Actions, and Regulation of Myostatin in Rat Uterus and Myometrial Cells.
P. Ciarmela, E. Wiater, S. M. Smith, and W. Vale (2009)
Endocrinology 150, 906-914
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of Uterine Leiomyoma Genes Developmentally Reprogrammed by Neonatal Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol.
K.L. Greathouse, J.D. Cook, K. Lin, B.J. Davis, T.D. Berry, T.G. Bredfeldt, and C.L. Walker (2008)
Reproductive Sciences 15, 765-778
   Abstract »    PDF »
A low concentration of genistein induces estrogen receptor-alpha and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor interactions and proliferation in uterine leiomyoma cells.
X. Di, L. Yu, A.B. Moore, L. Castro, X. Zheng, T. Hermon, and D. Dixon (2008)
Hum. Reprod. 23, 1873-1883
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Retinoids regulate genes involved in retinoic acid synthesis and transport in human myometrial and fibroid smooth muscle cells.
M. Zaitseva, B. J. Vollenhoven, and P. A.W. Rogers (2008)
Hum. Reprod. 23, 1076-1086
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Hysteroscopic myomectomy: a comprehensive review of surgical techniques.
A. Di Spiezio Sardo, I. Mazzon, S. Bramante, S. Bettocchi, G. Bifulco, M. Guida, and C. Nappi (2008)
Hum. Reprod. Update 14, 101-119
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Progesterone receptor modulator CDB-2914 induces extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells.
Q. Xu, N. Ohara, J. Liu, M. Amano, R. Sitruk-Ware, S. Yoshida, and T. Maruo (2008)
Mol. Hum. Reprod. 14, 181-191
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Role of lysophosphatidic acid in the regulation of uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation by phospholipase D and autotaxin.
E. Billon-Denis, Z. Tanfin, and P. Robin (2008)
J. Lipid Res. 49, 295-307
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Dual repressive effect of angiotensin II-type 1 receptor blocker telmisartan on angiotensin II-induced and estradiol-induced uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation.
A. Isobe, T. Takeda, M. Sakata, A. Miyake, T. Yamamoto, R. Minekawa, F. Nishimoto, Y. Oskamoto, C. L. Walker, and T. Kimura (2008)
Hum. Reprod. 23, 440-446
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Thrombospondin-1 and Thrombospondin-2 mRNA and TSP-1 and TSP-2 Protein Expression in Uterine Fibroids and Correlation to the Genes COL1A1 and COL3A1 and to the Collagen Cross-link Hydroxyproline.
M. A. Behera, L. Feng, B. Yonish, W. Catherino, S.-H. Jung, and P. C. Leppert (2007)
Reproductive Sciences 14, 63-76
   Abstract »    PDF »
Side population in human uterine myometrium displays phenotypic and functional characteristics of myometrial stem cells.
M. Ono, T. Maruyama, H. Masuda, T. Kajitani, T. Nagashima, T. Arase, M. Ito, K. Ohta, H. Uchida, H. Asada, et al. (2007)
PNAS 104, 18700-18705
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tumor-Specific Efficacy of Transforming Growth Factor-{beta}RI Inhibition in Eker Rats.
N. J. Laping, J. I. Everitt, K. S. Frazier, M. Burgert, M. J. Portis, C. Cadacio, L. I. Gold, and C. L. Walker (2007)
Clin. Cancer Res. 13, 3087-3099
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Accumulation of Retinoid X Receptor-{alpha} in Uterine Leiomyomas Is Associated with a Delayed Ligand-Dependent Proteasome-Mediated Degradation and an Alteration of Its Transcriptional Activity.
D. Lattuada, P. Vigano, S. Mangioni, J. Sassone, S. Di Francesco, M. Vignali, and A. M. Di Blasio (2007)
Mol. Endocrinol. 21, 602-612
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Invited Comment: "Identification of a Sensitive Period for Developmental Programming That Increases Risk for Uterine Leiomyoma in Eker Rats".
J. H. Segars (2007)
Reproductive Sciences 14, 99-100
   PDF »
Absolute enrichment: gene set enrichment analysis for homeostatic systems.
V. Saxena, D. Orgill, and I. Kohane (2006)
Nucleic Acids Res. 34, e151
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Estrogen Metabolite 2-Methoxyestradiol Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Collagen Production in Rat and Human Leiomyoma Cells: A Potential Medicinal Treatment for Uterine Fibroids.
S. A. Salama, A. B. Nasr, R. K. Dubey, and A. Al-Hendy (2006)
Reproductive Sciences 13, 542-550
   Abstract »    PDF »
Endothelin-1 Inhibits Apoptosis through a Sphingosine Kinase 1-Dependent Mechanism in Uterine Leiomyoma ELT3 Cells.
M.-N. Raymond, C. Bole-Feysot, Y. Banno, Z. Tanfin, and P. Robin (2006)
Endocrinology 147, 5873-5882
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Gene therapy and uterine leiomyoma: a review.
A. Al-Hendy and S. Salama (2006)
Hum. Reprod. Update 12, 385-400
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In vitro culture significantly alters gene expression profiles and reduces differences between myometrial and fibroid smooth muscle cells.
M. Zaitseva, B. J. Vollenhoven, and P. A.W. Rogers (2006)
Mol. Hum. Reprod. 12, 187-207
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)