Endometriosis is a common, chronic and @entity172 -dependent gynaecological disorder associated with pelvic @entity158 and @entity249 . In addition to, or perhaps as a consequence of, immune, environmental and genetic factors, endometriotic lesions show high @entity53 (E(2)) biosynthesis and low E(2) inactivation compared with normal endometrium. Current medical therapies of @entity158 , which aim to lower circulating E(2) concentrations, are not effective in at least half of these @entity1 . We and others recently demonstrated the expression of a few steroidogenic genes in @entity46 . The most important genes in this group are @entity624 ( @entity624 ) and aromatase. Both are essential for E(2) production. @entity1421 ( @entity1421 ) is the most potent known stimulator of both @entity624 and aromatase. @entity1421 production in @entity46 is up-regulated by increased levels of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in this tissue. COX-2 in turn is stimulated by E(2), @entity1356 ( @entity1356 ) and @entity1421 itself in endometrial and endometriotic cells. Thus, there is a positive feedback loop that favours continuous formation of E(2) and @entity1421 in @entity46 . These basic findings led to recent phase-II studies employing aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of @entity46 . Aromatase inhibitors treat both @entity46 at least as effectively as the existing medical treatments. In premenopausal @entity1 , we and others administered aromatase inhibitors in combination with an ovarian-suppressant treatment. In this review, we emphasize the most recent basic studies in detail and provide a short summary of recent clinical trials.

Aromatase and other steroidogenic genes in XXXX : translational aspects.

@entity172 :: ('MESH:D004967', 'Chemical') :: ['estrogen'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity249 :: ('MESH:D007246', 'Disease') :: ['infertility'] @entity624 :: ('6770', 'Gene') :: ['StAR', 'steroidogenic acute regulatory protein'] @entity1356 :: ('3553', 'Gene') :: ['IL-1beta', 'interleukin-1beta'] @entity1421 :: ('MESH:D015232', 'Chemical') :: ['PGE(2)', 'Prostaglandin E(2)'] @entity53 :: ('MESH:D004958', 'Chemical') :: ['estradiol'] @entity46 :: ('MESH:D004715', 'Disease') :: ['postmenopausal and premenopausal endometriosis', 'endometriosis'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity46 :: (MESH:D004715,Disease) :: ['endometriosis']
