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Review
. 2015 Jul 6;4(F1000 Faculty Rev):183.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6189.1. eCollection 2015.

Recent scientific advances in leiomyoma (uterine fibroids) research facilitates better understanding and management

Darlene K Taylor  1 , Kristine Holthouser  2 , James H Segars  3 , Phyllis C Leppert  4
Affiliations
Review

Recent scientific advances in leiomyoma (uterine fibroids) research facilitates better understanding and management

Darlene K Taylor et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most prevalent medical problem of the female reproductive tract, but there are few non-surgical treatment options. Although many advances in the understanding of the molecular components of these tumors have occurred over the past five years, an effective pharmaceutical approach remains elusive. Further, there is currently no clinical method to distinguish a benign uterine leiomyoma from a malignant leiomyosarcoma prior to treatment, a pressing need given concerns about the use of the power morcellator for minimally invasive surgery. This paper reviews current studies regarding the molecular biology of uterine fibroids, discusses non-surgical approaches and suggests new cutting-edge therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

Keywords: fibroids; gynecological cancers; leiomyoma; uterine fibroids; uterine leiomyoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: DKT developed LiquoGel™ with funding from NIH (grant number: NIH K12HD043446-04) and had funding from BioSpecifics Technologies Inc. to optimize the compound; North Carolina Central University has filed a patent for the product, but DKT has no pending obligations to BioSpecifics Technologies or any other company.

References

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    2. F1000 Recommendation

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