title: Antiproliferative effects of anastrozole, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil on endometriosis in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, EA 1833, ERTi, AP-HP Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ngô
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicco
authors.forename: Mahaut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leconte
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chéreau
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Batteux
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapron
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077384:Anastrozole; D011374:Progesterone; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate