title: Allelic loss studies do not provide evidence for the "endometriosis-as-tumor" theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify consistent genetic changes in endometriosis samples to determine whether endometriosis lesions are true neoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed ovarian endometriosis lesions for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 12 loci of potential importance (D9S1870, D9S265, D9S270, D9S161, D11S29, D1S199, D8S261, APOA2, PTCH, TP53, D10S541, and D10S1765), including some at which genetic changes were previously reported in endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Molecular biology laboratory in a university hospital department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen women with ovarian endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser capture microdissection to separate the endometriotic epithelium, the adjacent endometriotic stroma, and surrounding normal ovarian stromal tissue, followed by DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction amplification of polymorphic microsatellite markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluorescence-based quantitation for the LOH analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified LOH in only one lesion at one locus (D8S261).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data do not support the hypothesis that ovarian endometriosis is a true neoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Women's Centre, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amanda H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Prowse
authors.forename: Giannoulis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fakis
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manek
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Churchman
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koninckx
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Ian P M
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology