Gene Mutation Found in Uterine Fibroids Discovery May Lead to
Targeted Therapies for These Common, Benign Tumors Aug. 25, 2011
-- Mutations in a single gene MED12 occur in about 70% of
uterine fibroids, Finnish researchers find. "This is a giant
step toward understanding why fibroids arise -- but toward
design of targeted therapies it is a very early step," study
leader Lauri A. Aaltonen, MD, PhD, of the University of
Helsinki, says in a news release. "Let's hope that this journey
has begun." Fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are noncancerous
growths of the uterus. As many as 60% of women develop fibroids
by age 45. In about half of all cases, fibroids cause problems.
This may be because of their size, their location in the uterus,
or the number of fibroids. Symptoms can include abnormal vaginal
bleeding, painful menstruation, abdominal pain, and pain during
sex. They can also lead to infertility. Fibroids are the most
common reason for hysterectomy -- surgical removal of the
uterus. Previous research has l