title: Stromal fibroblast activation and their potential association with uterine fibroids (Review).
abstract: Uterine fibroids are the most common type of benign, gynecologic neoplasm and are the primary indication for performance of a hysterectomy, accounting for >200,000 hysterectomies annually in the USA. At present, females are younger and exhibit larger leiomyomas at the time of diagnosis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor microenvironments have emerged as an important target for cancer therapy. Repeated stimulation by infectious or non-infectious agents in the uterine tissues, including inflammation, mechanical forces or hypoxia, stimulate the resident fibroblasts to undergo specific activation and, thus, are significant in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, complex signaling pathways regulate the mechanisms of fibroblastic activation. The current review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fibroblastic activation and the potential association with uterine leiomyoma pathogenesis, enabling an integrated pathogenic analysis for review of the therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Yangpu District Central Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng-Feng
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg D-69120, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabell
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel-Stadt CH 4055, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biskup
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Yangpu District Central Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Cheng
keywords: fibroblast activation; fibroblasts; transforming growth factor-β; uterine fibroids; α-smooth muscle actin