title: Effect of imatinib on growth of experimental endometriosis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, medical and surgical treatment options for endometriosis are limited due to suboptimal efficacy, and also safety and tolerance issues. Long-term use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogs, androgenes, and the danazol, which are widely used drugs for endometriosis, is usually not possible due to their suboptimal safety and tolerance profile. The lack of an effective, tolerable and safe treatment option for endometriosis makes animal models of experimental endometriosis necessary to study candidate drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of imatinib on the experimental endometriosis in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometriosis was induced by autotransplantation of uterine tissue into the peritoneal cavity. Twenty-four rats, which had visually confirmed endometriotic implants on subsequent laparotomy, were randomized into three groups to receive imatinib (25mg/kg/day, p.o.), anastrozole (0.004 mg/day, p.o.), or normal saline (0.1 mL, i.p.) for 14 days. After removal of endometriotic tissue and H & E staining, endometriosis score was determined according to a semiquantitative histological classification. Also, immunostaining with primary antibodies including VEGF, CD117, and Bax were used for immunohistochemical (IHC) examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both anastrozole and imatinib suppressed the growth of endometriotic tissue and reduced the number of ovarian follicles. Although the difference was not statistically significant, imatinib was less effective than anastrozole for treatment of endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imatinib effectively treats experimental endometriosis by its inhibitor effects on angiogenesis and cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_caglaryildiz@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Caglar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kacan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Bozoklu
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Akkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seker
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sivas Numune Hospital, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selen Baloglu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kacan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000077384:Anastrozole; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
keywords: Endometriosis; Imatinib; Ovarian reserve