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Review
. 2021 Dec;20(4):201-206.
doi: 10.5114/pm.2021.111276. Epub 2021 Dec 6.

Endometriosis and gynaecological cancers: molecular insights behind a complex machinery

Vaclav Vetvicka  1 , Ludek Fiala  2 , Simone Garzon  3 , Giovanni Buzzaccarini  4 , Milan Terzic  5   6   7 , Antonio Simone Laganà  8
Affiliations
Review

Endometriosis and gynaecological cancers: molecular insights behind a complex machinery

Vaclav Vetvicka et al. Prz Menopauzalny. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Endometriosis is described as the presence of both endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. A major characterization of this disease is ectopic implantation of endometrial cells with increased migration. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity among premenopausal women, with a prevalence of 10-16% of women of reproductive age. Despite over century of intensive research, none of the current treatment options represents a real cure. Based on the current knowledge, endometriosis, particularly its atypical version, is considered to be a transitional form from benign disease to tumour. However, the exact mechanisms of this conversion are still not fully established.

Keywords: cancer; endometriosis; ovarian cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Possible relation between endometriosis and development of ovarian cancer
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Basic types of ovarian cancer
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Possible steps involved in changes from endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Genes involved in development of endometriosis, endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer, and ovarian cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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