Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most important neoplastic threat to women's health worldwide, disproportionately affect women of color and are a significant cause of infertility. Intramural and submucosal fibroids reduce the likelihood of pregnancy compared to unaffected women. Surgical removal of fibroids is afflicted with high recurrence rates and frequent postoperative consequences such as adhesions. There is a critical need for innovative effective, non-hormonal, non-surgical fertility treatment options for women with fibroids that may distort the uterine cavity. Our long-term goal is to develop novel non-hormonal treatments for uterine fibroids. Green tea catechins, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is safe during conception and pregnancy. EGCG inhibits key pathways of tumor growth by modulating signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, transformation, apoptosis and inflammation. Our team evaluated the efficacy and safety of EGCG in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. In the placebo group, fibroid volume increased; however, patients randomized to EGCG (800 mg/day) showed significant reduction in total fibroid volume. These data indicate that EGCG reduces fibroid size and represents a possible non-hormonal treatment for women with fibroids pursuing pregnancy. The objective of this study is to conduct a randomized clinical trial to determine the effect of EGCG on fibroids and subsequent pregnancy in women seeking fertility treatment. Our central hypothesis is that EGCG will reduce fibroid size and increase the likelihood of pregnancy. To test this hypothesis, we propose a placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate live birth outcomes for women with unexplained infertility who have uterine fibroids. Subjects will be randomized to either oral EGCG vs. placebo for up to 7 months with a 3-month run-in period followed by ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination for up to 4 cycles. We will determine the clinical efficacy of EGCG in a randomized study in 654 women pursuing fertility care; and determine pregnancy outcomes in women seeking fertility care treated with EGCG compared to placebo. To meet recruitment goals, the PIs have formed a consortium. Yale will serve as the data coordinating center and a clinical site, Hopkins will coordinate the single IRB and be a clinical site. Investigators at University of Illinois at Chicago have extensive experience with EGCG and clinical trials and will serve as lead PI. Investigators at the University of Florida have special expertise in clinical trials for fibroids and infertility treatment with prior experience in the Reproductive Medicine Network. Each institution has high volume of eligible patients and an excellent fertility center. The proposed research will have an immense positive impact on women with uterine fibroids that are seeking fertility care.
Uterine fibroids are a major health disparity to women's health worldwide and in many infertile women, fibroids are the only abnormality found after in-depth medical evaluation. In this application, we propose a two arm clinical trial to test an oral active agent (EGCG) extracted from green tea leaves versus matched placebo to improve pregnancy and live birth rates in patients with infertility related to fibroids. This study aims to develop a novel, tolerable, fertility-friendly and cost-effective oral therapy for uterine fibroids to address this important public health issue.
