Biomedical researchers at KU Leuven have found a new way to study endometrial diseases such as endometriosis and cancer. They were able to grow three-dimensional cell structures from diseased tissue of patients. The biobank can be used to unravel the disorders and test drugs.
Diseases of the endometrium are an important cause of infertility. One example is endometriosis, which is characterised by growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, resulting in chronic abdominal pain and painful sexual intercourse. Up to half of the patients are subfertile or infertile. Treatment usually requires surgery and permanent hormonal therapy, which is incompatible with pregnancy.
Although endometriosis affects one in ten women worldwide in their fertile years, the illness remains taboo. Public figures like actress Lena Dunham and, recently, fashion designer Alexa Chung, who both suffer from endometriosis, are trying to raise awareness about the disease.
Another important disorder is endometrial cancer, the most common gynecological cancer, with tumours growing in and from the endometrium. We need a better understanding of, and more effective treatments for both diseases. But in order to make progress, researchers have to be able to grow and study the endometrium in the lab.
In 2017, Professor Hugo Vankelecom and his team at the Department of Development and Regeneration at KU Leuven developed ‘organoids’ from a healthy endometrium. These three-dimensional cell structures are grown in a petri dish from tissue fragments and cells of clinical biopsies. The organoids accurately replicate the original endometrial tissue.
With this new study, the team have gone even further, developing organoids from a broad spectrum of endometrial diseases, including endometriosis and endometrial cancer. “The organoids form ‘avatars’, as it were, of the diseased tissue and can also be used to test the effect of drugs and new drug candidates,” senior author Hugo Vankelecom (KU Leuven) explains. “Our study shows that endometrial cancer organoids of different patients are each in a specific way sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs. Further research will show whether such tests can be of help in the clinical treatment of individual patients. This is an example of what we call personalised medicine.”
“We now have a biobank of organoids from endometrium in healthy and diseased conditions. This can help us discover how an aberrantly functioning endometrium causes infertility and then look for treatments. Our new research model offers the potential to better understand and eventually treat uterine diseases such as endometriosis,” concludes Vankelecom.
Learn more: Endometrial diseases can be imitated in a lab dish, new study shows
The Latest on: Biobank
[google_news title=”” keyword=”biobank” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Biobank
- Balanced diet boosts brain health and cognitive functionon April 27, 2024 at 2:15 am
Researchers from the University of Warwick have unveiled a profound link between dietary choices and brain health. The study, which involved the analysis of 181,990 participants from the UK Biobank, ...
- PTSD tied to 95 'risk hotspots' in the genomeon April 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm
In a group effort, scientists from all over the world came together to create a detailed map of the genetic causes behind PTSD.
- New Study Links Balanced Diet to Improved Brain Health, Cognition, and Intelligenceon April 26, 2024 at 3:05 am
A new study highlights the profound link between dietary choices and brain health. Published in Nature, the study revealed that a healthy, balanced diet is associated with enhanced brain health, ...
- Pancreatic Fat Is the Main Driver for Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreatic Diseaseson April 26, 2024 at 12:46 am
The diffused presence of fat within the pancreas was the single most important driver for diseases of both the exocrine pancreas and endocrine pancreas, a recent study reported.
- How body shape influences colorectal cancer riskon April 25, 2024 at 9:52 pm
Study reveals that specific body shape phenotypes, such as general obesity and central obesity, significantly increase the risk of colorectal cancer, suggesting distinct molecular pathways for ...
- Will a Higher BMI Protect You After 65?on April 25, 2024 at 7:55 am
A soon-to-be presented observational study found that a higher BMI may indicate a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular-related causes. Does that mean that weighing more is okay in later life? Not ...
- Are Dead Hangs the 30-Second Secret To Decompressing Your Back?on April 24, 2024 at 11:08 am
As a general rule, Accetta recommends checking with your doctor or a trainer to see if dead hangs are a good choice for you personally. This is especially true if you have any shoulder or back issues.
- The Right Amount of Sleep Could Help Prevent This Extremely Common Diseaseon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
It turns out the relationship between sleep and diabetes is complex. Researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database that serves as a global resource for health and medical ...
- California can share your baby's DNA sample without permission, but new bill could force state to publicly reveal who they're giving it toon April 17, 2024 at 3:25 pm
After more than a decade of CBS reporting on the biobank, this is the first time California officials have refused to reveal to us who has access to California's newborn bloodspots. Under previous ...
- Accelerated aging may be a cause of increased cancers in people under 55on April 16, 2024 at 6:14 am
An increase in cancers among people 55 years old and younger may be related to accelerated aging in recent generations, according to a study presented at a conference earlier this month. Experts ...
via Bing News