This study shows that expression of SDF-1α, eNOS and VEGF were significantly higher in UL than myometrium with a different expression pattern according to the size of UL.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum level of VEGF, and immunohistochemical staining method was used to study the expression of VEGF in the uterine fibroids.
Significant upregulation of PTEN (2.52 fold; P=0.03) and LKB1 (3.93 fold; P0.01), and downregulation of VEGFA (2.95 fold; P=0.01) genes were observed in leiomyoma as compared to normal myometrium.
These observations suggest that VEGF and other angiogenic factors may represent potential targets for the treatment and prevention of uterine fibroids.