Angiostatic agents useful for endometriosis
Drugs that inhibit the development of blood vessels could provide a new treatment strategy for women suffering from endometriosis, two new studies suggest.
A research team from the Netherlands found that four compounds; anti-human
vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-hVGF), TNP-470, endostatin and
anginex, inhibited the development of new blood vessels in an animal
model and may also interfere with the maintenance and growth of existing
endometriotic lesions.
The researchers transplanted human endometrium into mice and allowed
it to develop into endometriotic lesions. The four angiostatic compounds
were then administered continuously to the mice for two weeks. Saline
was administered to mice in a control group. The results show that the
number of endometriotic lesions per mouse was higher in the control group
(2.5) than in mice treated with anti-hVGF (1.1, P<0.05), TNP (1, P<0.05),
anginex (1.2, P<0.05) or endostatain (0.6, P<0.05). The number
of newly developed blood vessels around the lesions was also inhibited
by angiostatic therapy, although the mature vessels were not. The researchers
conclude that angiostatic therapy may be useful for preventing the recurrence
of endometriosis after surgical or hormonal therapy.
Similarly, a research team from the US administered endostatin to mouse
models of endometriosis for two weeks. They found that the growth and
number of endometriotic lesions was significantly reduced in the endostatin
group compared with the control group. They report that endostatin did
not have any side effects and did not affect hormone levels or menstrual
cycles of the mice. They say that endoststain may present a new and safe
approach to the treatment of this disease.
Both studies were presented at a meeting of the European
Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology last week. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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