Antiproliferative effects of anastrozole, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil on endometriosis in vitro and in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of antiproliferative drugs (anastrozole, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) on the proliferation of endometriotic cells in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
Ex vivo study on human endometrial and endometriotic cells in culture; establishment of a murine model using mice implanted with human endometriosis.


METHODS
University research center.


METHODS
Ten patients with ovarian endometrioma, 10 patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis, and 10 patients without endometriosis.


METHODS
Stromal and epithelial cells were extracted from endometrial and endometriotic biopsies from patients with endometriosis and from patients without endometriosis. Cells were treated in vitro with anastrozole, methotrexate, progesterone, or 5-FU. Human endometriotic lesions were implanted in nude mice. Mice were treated with 5-FU or phosphate-buffered saline during 4 weeks before sacrifice and extraction of the endometriotic implants.


METHODS
Stromal and epithelial cell proliferation and pathology score of endometriotic implants.


RESULTS
Although anastrozole, methotrexate, and progesterone were ineffective, 5-FU significantly decreased the proliferation of endometriotic cells in vitro and controlled the growth of both cells from ovarian endometrioma and deep infiltrating endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering common features between endometriotic cells and tumor cells, the use of 5-FU could be an option in the management of severe endometriosis.
Ngô
Charlotte
C
Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, EA 1833, ERTi, AP-HP Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
Nicco
Carole
C
Leconte
Mahaut
M
Chéreau
Christiane
C
Weill
Bernard
B
Batteux
Frédéric
F
Chapron
Charles
C
D000328:Adult; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077384:Anastrozole; D011374:Progesterone; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate