Molecular Analysis of Factors Involved in Benign Reproductive Tract Diseases
Shannon Hawkins
Primary Investigator
Brief description of study
Detailed description of study
The purpose of this study is to create new immortalized endometriotic cell lines. This is a laboratory-based research protocol in which prospectively collected specimens of tissue and whole blood will be obtained from women undergoing gynecologic surgery. Because endometriosis is composed of both epithelial and stromal cells (1), we will use fresh tissues obtained at time of surgery (endometriotic lesions, endometriomas) to create primary cultures of both endometriotic epithelial and stromal cells.
As controls, we will use fresh endometrial tissues at time of hysterectomy from women without endometriosis to create primary cultures of endometrial epithelial and endometrial stromal cells.
These primary cultures will be immortalized using lentiviral system that expresses human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) (10, 11). These new immortalized cell lines will be characterized, used in future studies, and eventually used in our novel 3D bioprinted model system.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
- Conditions: Reproductive tract disease, endometriosis: pelvic pain, adnexal mass(es), infertility, endometrioma, non-endometriosis: menorrhagia, symptomatic uterine fibroids, pelvic organ prolapse, adnexal masses, etopic pregnancy
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Age: 18 years or above
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Gender: Female
• Female patients over 18 years of age, undergoing hysterectomy for non-endometriosis: menorrhagia, symptomatic uterine fibroids, pelvic organ prolapse, adnexal masses (not thought to be endometriomas).
• Under 18 years of age
• Under 18 years of age
