The mucin-like glycoprotein episialin (MUC1) is highly overproduced by a number of human carcinomas. We have shown previously in a variety of mammalian cell lines that overexpression of this very large transmembrane molecule diminishes cellular adhesion, suggesting that episialin/MUC1 overexpression may play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. By using in situ hybridization, we ...

pituitary suppression by depot gnrh agonist may be excessive for ovarian stimulation. this study compares the efficacy of a single half-dose depot triptorelin and reduced-dose daily buserelin in a long protocol icsi/et. methods: a total of 182 patients were randomized into two groups using sealed envelopes. pituitary desensitization was obtained in group 1 (91 patients) with half-dose (1.87 mg)...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the expression of inhibin A and activin A in ovarian endometriosis. DESIGN Uncontrolled cross-sectional study and controlled prospective in vitro study. SETTING Academic health centers in Siena, Udine, Sassari, and Milan, Italy. PATIENT(S) A group of women (n = 19) who underwent laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriotic cysts. INTERVENTION(S) Specimens of seru...

BACKGROUND The objective of the present study was to expand our understanding of the role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. METHODS Expression levels of MMP-7 mRNA and protein in the eutopic endometrium and ectopic endometrium of patients with different forms of endometriosis were measured with immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. Endometrial...

OBJECTIVE The appropriate interaction between a blastocyst and the endometrium is essential for successful implantation. Numerous factors, including hormone receptors (progesterone receptor), cytokines [leukemia inhibitory factors (LIF)], and adherence molecules such as E-cadherin are involved in the cross-talk that occurs between the embryo and endometrium. Studies show that a lack of these ge...

MUC1, a transmembrane mucin, plays a critical role in embryo implantation, protection of mucosal epithelia from microbial and enzymic attack and various aspects of tumour progression. In some species, a decrease in uterine epithelial MUC1 protein and mRNA expression accompanies embryo implantation. In other species, such as rabbits and humans, MUC1 appears to be locally removed at blastocyst at...

We recently identified a novel gene of the TGF-beta superfamily, endometrial bleeding associated factor, TGFB4 (ebaf), that, throughout the menstrual cycle, exhibited a defined expression in human endometrium. Here, we report on the expression of TGFB4 (ebaf) in normal and neoplastic human tissues. The expression of this gene was absent in a host of normal tissues including lung, stomach, small...

MUC1 is a highly immunogenic epithelial mucin and serves as a tumor-associated antigen in breast, pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. We previously reported the expression of MUC1 on myeloma cells and the establishment of an HLA-unrestricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line TN that recognized MUC1 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a multiple myeloma patient. In this study, we attempted...

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic, animal, and human data suggest that progestins are potent endometrial cancer preventive agents. In the ovarian surface epithelium, progestins have been hypothesized to confer a cancer preventive effect via apoptosis and modulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Given that the ovarian epithelium and endometrium share a common embryologic origin and simil...

An ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium was performed in 158 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for an in-vitro assisted reproduction programme. Endometrial thickness was evaluated in 109 patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for female indications and in 49 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male indications. The maximal endometrial thickn...