Molecular biological mechanisms of tumor growth in uterine leiomyoma

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592524
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: SATO Mikiko 横浜市立大学, 附属病院, 講師 (70326049)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIYAGI Yohei 地方独立行政法人神奈川県立病院機構神奈川県立がんセンター(臨床研究所), がん分子病態研究部門, 部門長 (00254194)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HIRAHARA Fumiki 横浜市立大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30201734) ; MIYAGI Etsuko 横浜市立大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40275053) ; NAGASHIMA Yoji 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (10217995) ; YAMANAKA Shoji 横浜市立大学, 附属病院, 准教授 (80264604) ; HATA Masaharu 横浜市立大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60285145)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 子宮筋腫 / エリスロポエチン / 血管成熟

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Some uterine leiomyoma stay small, while others may enlarge tremendously. Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome is a rare complication of uterine leiomyoma caused by erythropoietin (EPO) that is produced by tumor cells. We hypothesize that EPO may act as a factor that stimulates the enlargement of leiomyomas and assessed the EPO expression in leiomyomas and investigated the effects of EPO on the tumor growth.
The mean EPO mRNA expression in the leiomyoma was higher than the corresponding normal myometrium by Real-time RT-PCR. A positive correlation of leiomyoma size and EPO mRNA expression was shown, suggesting the involvement of EPO in leiomyoma growth. Blood vessel maturity was also significantly increased in EPO-producing leiomyomas. As conclusions, EPO is produced in most of conventional leiomyomas and supports a model where EPO accelerates tumor growth, possibly by inducing vessel maturity. Our study suggests one possible mechanism by which some uterine leiomyomas reach a large size.

Free Research Field

腫瘍内分泌学