This review confirms that despite decades of intensive research, the involvement of the immune system remains elusive, as we can recognize the changes, but still do not understand if these changes represent the results of endometriosis or if they are contributing factors. Based on these findings, we also discuss new treatment possibilities.
The endometrium tissue is functionally androgen related which plays an important role in women's fertility regulation. In addition recent findings show that endometrium related pathology is closely linked to disrupted androgen biosynthesis and associated regulatory functions. These findings also suggest that androgens might play an important role in endometrium related cancer pathology with significant implications for treatment.Based on these findings, we have assessed 50 female outpatients with endometriosis and the clinical investigations were focused on biochemical serum analysis of DHEAS, oncological markers CA-125 and CA 19-9, estradiol, thyreothropic hormone, and prolactin.The results show significant Spearman correlations of CA-125 and CA 19-9 with dehydroepiandrosterone- DHEA-S (R = 0.52 resp. R = 0.49).This result represents 1st reported finding documenting androgen related increase of CA-125 and CA 19-9 levels as significant markers of endometrium pathology and it is possible to assume that these potential biomarkers could have clinical importance with respect to timely diagnosis.
Endometriosis is described as the presence of both endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. A major characterization of this disease is ectopic implantation of endometrial cells with increased migration. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity among premenopausal women, with a prevalence of 10-16% of women of reproductive age. Despite over century of intensive research, none of the current treatment options represents a real cure. Based on the current knowledge, endometriosis, particularly its atypical version, is considered to be a transitional form from benign disease to tumour. However, the exact mechanisms of this conversion are still not fully established.
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