STATUS OF CURRENT RESEARCH ON ENDOMETRIOSIS

Endometriosis, a benign gynecologic disorder, occurs in about 10% of w omen of reproductive age and in up to 50% of women with infertility. E ndometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glandular and s tromal cells outside their normal location in the uterus. Commonly aff ected areas in the abdominopelvic cavity include the ovaries, the cul- de-sac and other kinds of pelvic peritoneum, bowel and diaphragm. Rare ly is it found in extraabdominal sites, including the pleura and peric ardium. While it is not a malignant disorder, endometriosis exhibits c ellular proliferation, cellular invasion and neoangiogenesis. The ster oid hormone dependence of endometriosis is under-scored by its appeara nce during the reproductive years. Furthermore, the progress of this e nigmatic disease can be tempered by administration of antiestrogens, i nhibitors of endogenous estradiol production, and hormonal and surgica l castration. It is a disorder that markedly affects well-being and ph ysical and emotional health in women. Research on the pathogenesis of endometriosis currently interfaces with four areas of basic research, including the fields of genetics, environmental science, cancer biolog y and immunology. Here we focus on current research in the latter two disciplines and their relevance to endometriosis research.