Apoptosis in human uterine leiomyomas

Human uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are benign neoplasms that typically occur in reproductive age and perimenopausal women. These tumors pose a significant and costly health concern for numerous women throughout the world. Alternative therapies are few, with hysterectomy being the treatment of choice by many physicians. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the development of leiomyomas may be influenced by numerous factors including genetic, environmental, and hormonal influences resulting in a possible failure of any number of apoptotic pathways. Understanding the role apoptosis plays in the normal regression of nascent myometrial tissue and how this failure may influence leiomyoma tumor growth may provide a better understanding of how to develop effective and less invasive treatment modalities for this disease. The following review attempts to highlight what is currently known about apoptosis in leiomyomas as compared with the normal myometrium and where future research is needed.