Stromal fibroblast activation and their potential association with uterine fibroids (Review)

Zheng,Li‑Hua; Cai,Feng‑Feng; Ge,Isabell; Biskup,Ewelina; Cheng,Zhong‑Ping

doi:10.3892/ol.2014.2225

Stromal fibroblast activation and their potential association with uterine fibroids (Review)

Authors:
- Li‑Hua Zheng
- Feng‑Feng Cai
- Isabell Ge
- Ewelina Biskup
- Zhong‑Ping Cheng
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Affiliations: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Yangpu District Central Hospital, Shanghai 200090, P.R. China, Department of Breast Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, P.R. China, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden‑Württemberg D‑69120, Germany, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel‑Stadt CH 4055, Switzerland
Published online on: June 4, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2225
Pages: 479-486

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Abstract

Uterine fibroids are the most common type of benign, gynecologic neoplasm and are the primary indication for performance of a hysterectomy, accounting for >200,000 hysterectomies annually in the USA. At present, females are younger and exhibit larger leiomyomas at the time of diagnosis. Cancer‑associated fibroblasts in tumor microenvironments have emerged as an important target for cancer therapy. Repeated stimulation by infectious or non‑infectious agents in the uterine tissues, including inflammation, mechanical forces or hypoxia, stimulate the resident fibroblasts to undergo specific activation and, thus, are significant in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, complex signaling pathways regulate the mechanisms of fibroblastic activation. The current review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fibroblastic activation and the potential association with uterine leiomyoma pathogenesis, enabling an integrated pathogenic analysis for review of the therapeutic options.

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