This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Uterine fibroids (leiomyomata) are benign tumors of the uterine muscle or myometrium that affect 25-40% of women of reproductive age. Despite the high prevalence of fibroids in reproductive age women, the etiology of the disease is largely unknown. One reason for this disparity is that there are few animal models for the disease. Our goal was to develop a human xenograft model for preclinical studies of fibroids. For this model, human fibroids will be collected from women undergoing hysterectomy for fibroid disease. The biopsies of tissue will be transplanted into immunodeficient mice for further study.
Specific Aim 1 is to conduct a pilot study where we will assess the morphology and hormone responsiveness of human uterine fibroids and normal myometrium grafts in immunodeficient SCID and Rag-2 null mice.
Specific Aim 2 is to test the effects of novel anti-fibroid therapies on xenografts of human fibroids and normal myometrium in SCID mice.
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