Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign tumors in women. They The Fibroids disrupt the functions of the uterus and cause excessive uterine bleeding, anemia, infertility, defective implantation of embryos, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, obstruction of labor, pelvic discomfort and urinary incontinence; they may mimic or mask malignant tumors. Nearly 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women will have had at least one fibroid by the time they reach 50 years of age; 15 - 30 percent of them will develop severe symptoms. Approximately 200,000 hysterectomies, 30,000 myomectomies, and thousands of selective uterine-artery embolizations and high-intensity focused ultrasound procedures are performed annually in the United States to remove or destroy uterine fibroids. The annual economic burden of these tumors is estimated to be between 5.9 and 34.4 billion US$.
Uterine fibroids are monoclonal tumors that arise from the uterine smooth-muscle tissue (i.e., the myometrium). Histologically, fibroids are benign neoplasms composed of disordered smooth-muscle cells buried in abundant quantities of extracellular matrix. A striking feature of uterine fibroids is their dependency on the ovarian steroids estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian activity is essential for fibroid growth; most fibroids shrink after menopause. Gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) analogues, which suppress ovarian activity and reduce circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone, shrink fibroids and reduce associated uterine bleeding.
The unique vascular architecture of fibroids, consisting of an avascular core surrounded by a well-vascularized myometrium is caused, most likely, due to an angiogenic imbalance. Resarchers suggest that the perliminary tumor, which is small in size with a minimal intrinsic blood supply, may release angiogenic factors as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that lead to an increase in the vascular density of the surrounding myometrium. This may, in turn, give rise to capillary sprouts that vascularize the small fibroid, promoting its growth and enlargement. This increase in vascular density of myometrium may account for the symptoms of menorrhagia observed in women with fibroids. In addtion, the current medications for leiomyomas, such as GnRH and selective progesterone receptormodulators, have displayed suppressive effects on the expression of VEGF. Therefore, VEGF may be a potential target in the treatment of uterine fibroid
Project ID : 10-2014-852
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign tumors in women. They The Fibroids disrupt the functions of the uterus and cause excessive uterine bleeding, anemia, infertility, defective implantation of embryos, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, obstruction of labor, pelvic discomfort and urinary incontinence; they may mimic or mask malignant tumors. Nearly 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women will have had at least one fibroid by the time they reach 50 years of age; 15 - 30 percent of them will develop severe symptoms. Approximately 200,000 hysterectomies, 30,000 myomectomies, and thousands of selective uterine-artery embolizations and high-intensity focused ultrasound procedures are performed annually in the United States to remove or destroy uterine fibroids. The annual economic burden of these tumors is estimated to be between 5.9 and 34.4 billion US$. Uterine fibroids are monoclonal tumors that arise from the uterine smooth-muscle tissue (i.e., the myometrium). Histologically, fibroids are benign neoplasms composed of disordered smooth-muscle cells buried in abundant quantities of extracellular matrix. A striking feature of uterine fibroids is their dependency on the ovarian steroids estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian activity is essential for fibroid growth; most fibroids shrink after menopause. Gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) analogues, which suppress ovarian activity and reduce circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone, shrink fibroids and reduce associated uterine bleeding. The unique vascular architecture of fibroids, consisting of an avascular core surrounded by a well-vascularized myometrium is caused, most likely, due to an angiogenic imbalance. Resarchers suggest that the perliminary tumor, which is small in size with a minimal intrinsic blood supply, may release angiogenic factors as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that lead to an increase in the vascular density of the surrounding myometrium. This may, in turn, give rise to capillary sprouts that vascularize the small fibroid, promoting its growth and enlargement. This increase in vascular density of myometrium may account for the symptoms of menorrhagia observed in women with fibroids. In addtion, the current medications for leiomyomas, such as GnRH and selective progesterone receptormodulators, have displayed suppressive effects on the expression of VEGF. Therefore, VEGF may be a potential target in the treatment of uterine fibroid
Project manager
Elisha Natan
Director BD
Project researchers
Ruth Shalgi
T.A.U Tel Aviv University, Medicine-Sackler Faculty
Cell and Developmental Biology
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