Molecular Signatures of Fibroid Tumor Progenitor Cells: Identification of Therapeutic Targets

Abstract Uterine fibroids represent the most common gynecologic tumor, and are a frequent cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. There are currently no medical therapies approved for the long-term treatment of fibroids, and surgical treatment comes at significant costs to the patient and our health care system. Recent studies have shown that somatic stem cells are necessary for the growth of human fibroid tumors; however, the molecular characteristics of these tumor progenitor cells are currently unknown. While fibroid tumor progenitor cells have traditionally been identified using the side population technique, our laboratory has developed a superior method of isolating these cells using cell surface markers. The objective of this study is to determine the differential gene expression of fibroid tumor progenitor cells compared to fully differentiated fibroid cells and identify critical gene pathways that may explain the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids. This information may lead to the development of new treatment options, by targeting the critical molecules in pathways elucidated during the proposed studies. Treatments targeting progenitor cells are likely to not only treat current fibroids, but also prevent the development and growth of new fibroids, thus preventing one of the major causes of heavy menstrual bleeding.