Allelic loss studies do not provide evidence for the "endometriosis-as-tumor" theory.
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.
Prowse
Amanda H
AH
Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Women's Centre, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
Fakis
Giannoulis
G
Manek
Sanjiv
S
Churchman
Michael
M
Edwards
Sarah
S
Rowan
Andrew
A
Koninckx
Philippe
P
Kennedy
Stephen
S
Tomlinson
Ian P M
IP
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