title: Prediction of the shrinking rate of uterine leiomyoma nodules using needle biopsy specimens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine correlations between shrinkage of uterine leiomyomas after treatment with GnRH agonists (GnRH-a) or menopause and expression levels of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 26 women with uterine leiomyoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women were treated with buserelin acetate injection (1.8 mg), four courses every 4 weeks, and 16 women went into menopause naturally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor shrinkage rates determined from magnetic resonance images taken before and after GnRH-a therapy and before and after natural menopause; immunohistochemical analysis of ER, PR, and VEGF in uterine leiomyoma biopsy specimens taken before intervention or within 6 months before menopause.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shrinkage rates of uterine leiomyomas were positively correlated with expression levels of ER in women treated with GnRH-a and in postmenopausal women managed conservatively, and with VEGF expression in women treated with GnRH-a. There were no significant correlations with PR expression levels in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estrogen plays the predominant role in myoma shrinkage for women with GnRH-a therapy and naturally menopausal women.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. mari_k0410@yahoo.co.jp
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Kasai
authors: Tomoyuki
authors: T
authors: Ichimura
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Kawamura
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Sumikura
authors: Makiko
authors: M
authors: Matsuda
authors: Chika
authors: C
authors: Asano
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Sumi
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Ishiko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002064:Buserelin