Sinonasal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in Adult Proteus Syndrome.

Introduction: Proteus syndrome (PS) is a rare genetic disorder usually caused by mutations in AKT1 or PTEN genes, characterized by multiple, asymmetric tissue overgrowth with high clinical variability. Sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinomas (SNEC) are exceptionally rare tumors encountered in the ethmoid sinus, nasal cavity, or maxillary sinus. Case Report: We report a 35-year-old patient with PS, who underwent successful surgical removal of a well-differentiated SNEC obstructing his nasal cavity and highlight the role of the otolaryngologist for safe airway management, minimal surgical intervention and coordination of the multidisciplinary care. Histologically, focally hyperplastic mucosal epithelium of respiratory type of the nasal chamber was noticed along with seromucinous glands and capillary congestion of the subepithelial fibrovascular tissue. The limited presence of neoplastic tissue with histomorphological and immunophenotypic features of a neuroendocrine neoplasm was focally observed. Tumor cells grow in the form of islets within a vascular stroma; these neoplastic cells are immunohistochemically positive for synaptophysin, CD56, EMA, Ki67 (low expression, cell proliferation rate: 2%), CD31, chromogranin and pancytokeratin AE1 / AE3 as well as for S-100 protein (weak intensity). Conclusions: This first description of a SNEC in a PS patient, might hint towards a common basis between the two conditions, due to the mosaic AKT1 variant and an activated AKT/PIK3CA/PTEN pathway.

Insulinlike growth factor-1Ec (MGF) expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium: characterization of the MGF E-peptide actions in vitro.

The transcription of the insulinlike growth factor 1 (igf-1) gene generates three mRNA isoforms, namely IGF-1Ea, IGF-1Eb and IGF-1Ec (or MGF [mechano growth factor]). Herein, we analyzed the expression of IGF-1 isoforms in eutopic and ectopic endometrium (red lesions and endometriotic cysts) of women with endometriosis, and we characterized the actions of a synthetic MGF E-peptide on KLE cells. Our data documented that all three igf-1 gene transcripts are expressed in the stromal cells of the eutopic and ectopic endometrium; however, endometriotic cysts contained significantly lower IGF-1 isoform expression, both at the mRNA and protein level, as was shown using semiquantitative PCR and immunohistochemical methods. In addition, the glandular cells of the eutopic endometrium did not express any of the IGF-1 isoforms; however, the glandular cells of the ectopic endometrium (red lesions) did express the IGF-1Ec at mRNA and protein level. Furthermore, synthetic MGF E-peptide, which comprised the last 24 amino acids of the MGF, stimulated the growth of the KLE cells. Experimental silencing of the type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor expression of KLE cells (siRNA knock-out methods) did not alter the mitogenic action of the synthetic MGF E-peptide, revealing that MGF E-peptide stimulates the growth of KLE cells via an IGF-1R-independent and insulin receptor-independent mechanism. These data suggest that the IGF-1Ec transcript might generate, apart from mature IGF-1 peptide, another posttranslational bioactive product that may have an important role in endometriosis pathophysiology.

Methods of detection of circulating melanoma cells: a comparative overview.

Disease dissemination is the major cause of melanoma-related death. A crucial step in the metastatic process is the intravascular invasion and circulation of melanoma cells in the bloodstream with subsequent development of distant micrometastases that is initially clinically undetectable and will eventually progress into clinically apparent metastasis. Therefore, the use of molecular methods to detect circulating melanoma cells may be of value in risk stratification and clinical management of such patients. Herein, we review the currently applied techniques for the detection, isolation, enrichment and further characterization of circulating melanoma cells from peripheral blood samples in melanoma patients. Furthermore, we provide a brief overview of the various molecular markers currently being evaluated as prognostic indicators of melanoma progression.

uPA, uPAR and TGFß1 expression during early and late post myocardial infarction period in rat myocardium.

The expression patterns of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor (uPAR) were analysed after artery ligation-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in the rat myocardium. uPA and uPAR expressions were significantly increased both at transcriptional and protein level during early phase post MI period (uPA at 1 hour and uPAR at 24 hours post infarction). TGFß1 mRNA expression profile revealed a significant increase of TGFß1 expression from day 4 up to 8 weeks post infarction. These data suggest that the need for an increasing TGFß1 bioavailability during the post-infarction period in rat myocardium is achieved in the early post MI period by an increased expression of uPA/uPAR proteolytic system (indirect activation of latent TGFß1) and in the late post MI period by direct regulation of TGFß1 expression. It is therefore concluded that differential regulation of the TGFß1 bioavailability may be a crucial step of the repair mechanisms during the post MI infarction period in the rat myocardium.

Preferential expression of IGF-1Ec (MGF) transcript in cancerous tissues of human prostate: evidence for a novel and autonomous growth factor activity of MGF E peptide in human prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: By alternative splicing the IGF-1 gene produces several different transcripts, including IGF-1Ec (MGF). The latter has been mainly associated with muscle regeneration processes. METHODS: We used immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western analysis to show the expression status of MGF in prostate tissue and human prostate cell lines (HPrEC, PC-3, and LNCaP) and we studied the exogenous administration of the MGF peptide E on cellular proliferation using trypan blue and MTT assays, before and after the silencing of the IGF-1 receptor and insulin receptor (siRNA methods). The MGF-induced intracellular activation was examined by Western analysis of the active forms of ERK1/2 and Akt. RESULTS: We documented that MGF is overexpressed in human prostate cancer (PCa) tissues and in human PC-3 and LNCaP cells. Notably, MGF expression was remarkably higher in PCa and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) than normal prostate tissues, while the normal prostate epithelial cells (HPrEC) did not express MGF. Exogenous administration of a synthetic MGF E peptide stimulated the PCa cell growth and activated ERK1/2 phosphorylation without affecting Akt phosphorylation. IGF-1R or insulin receptor (IR) silencing did not affect the mitogenic activity and intracellular signaling of the MGF E peptide in these PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest the possible implication of MGF E peptide in cancer biology, implying a preferential MGF expression in PCa tissues and cells. This preferential IGF-1 mRNA expression generates the MGF E peptide that possesses mitogenic activity through mechanisms independent of IGF-1R, IR, and hybrid IGF-1R/IR.

Systemic cytokine response following exercise-induced muscle damage in humans.

BACKGROUND: Muscle adaptation which occurs following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage has been associated with an acute inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (OPG/RANKL) concentrations following muscle damage. We measured changes for several days following muscle damage. METHODS: Ten healthy young males performed an eccentric exercise protocol using their quadriceps. Blood samples were withdrawn before and at 6 h, 2 days, 5 days and 16 days post-exercise. Functional and clinical measurements were performed before, and on days 1, 2, 5, 8, 12 and 16 post-exercise. RESULTS: The exercise protocol resulted in muscle damage, indicated by changes in biochemical markers. An increase in IL-6 and OPG, and a decrease in RANKL concentrations were seen at 6 h and on day 2 post-exercise; the OPG:RANKL ratio was increased at 6 h post-exercise (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in IL-6 and OPG/RANKL system may represent systemic responses in muscle inflammation and repair processes. However, further studies are needed to elucidate a potential systemic and/or local role of the OPG/RANKL system in skeletal muscle repair.

IGF-1 expression in infarcted myocardium and MGF E peptide actions in rat cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) expression is implicated in myocardial pathophysiology, and two IGF-1 mRNA splice variants have been detected in rodents, IGF-1Ea and mechano-growth factor (MGF). We investigated the expression pattern of IGF-1 gene transcripts in rat myocardium from 1 h up to 8 wks after myocardial infarction induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. In addition, we characterized IGF-1 and MGF E peptide action and their respective signaling in H9C2 myocardial-like cells in vitro. IGF-1Ea and MGF expression were significantly increased, both at transcriptional and translational levels, during the late postinfarction period (4 and 8 wks) in infarcted rat myocardium. Measurements of serum IGF-1 levels in infarcted rats were initially decreased (24 h up to 1 wk) but remained unaltered throughout the late experimental phase (4 to 8 wks) compared with sham-operated rats. Furthermore, specific anti-IGF-1R neutralizing antibody failed to block the synthetic MGF E peptide action, whereas it completely blocked IGF-1 action on the proliferation of H9C2 cells. Moreover, this synthetic MGF E peptide did not activate Akt phosphorylation, whereas it activated ERK1/2 in H9C2 rat myocardial cells. These data support the role of IGF-1 expression in the myocardial repair process and suggest that synthetic MGF E peptide actions may be mediated via an IGF-1R independent pathway in rat myocardial cells, as suggested by our in vitro experiments.

Detection of circulating tumor cells in bladder cancer patients.

The methods employed for the detection of circulating bladder cancer cells (CBCs) and their use as a molecular staging tool in clinical settings are thoroughly reviewed. CBC isolation and enrichment methods are discussed according to their advantages and pitfalls along with the clinical data of PCR-based techniques used for CBC detection. In addition, we review the specificity of molecular markers that have been proposed so far for CBC identification, and we comment on the controversial clinical data, proposing laboratory approaches which may improve the clinical significance of CBC detection in bladder cancer.

Molecular markers detecting circulating melanoma cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: methodological pitfalls and clinical relevance.

Herein, we expound the theory of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) and their detection with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as a molecular staging approach. We discuss the molecular markers that have been used for CMC detection focusing on the use of these markers for multiplex detection analysis. Finally, we comment on the contradictory data of CMC detection studies in the literature and we propose possible solutions which may contribute to the clinical significance of CMC detection in patient management.

Detection of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patients: methodological pitfalls and clinical relevance.

Disseminated malignancy is the major cause of prostate cancer-related mortality. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are essential for the establishment of metastasis. Various contemporary and molecular methods using prostate-specific biomarkers have been applied to detect extraprostatic disease that is undetectable by conventional imaging techniques, assessing the risk for disease recurrence after therapy of curative intent. However, the clinical relevance of CTC detection is still controversial. We review current literature regarding molecular methods used for the detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood and bone marrow biopsies of patients with prostate cancer, and we discuss the methodological pitfalls that influence the clinical significance of molecular staging.

Experimental hyperthyroidism increases expression of parathyroid hormone-related peptide and type-1 parathyroid hormone receptor in rat ventricular myocardium of the Langendorff ischaemia-reperfusion model.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is released under ischaemic conditions and it improves contractile function of stunned myocardium. The actions of PTHrP are mediated primarily by the type 1 parathyroid hormone receptor (PTH.1R), while PTHrP and PTH.1R expression levels are increased in ventricular hypertrophy associated with experimental hyperthyroidism. Since chronic administration of thyroxine (T4) improves postischaemic recovery in isolated heart models subjected to ischaemia-reperfusion stress, we tested the hypothesis that experimentally induced hyperthyroidism is associated with elevated expression of PTHrP and PTH.1R in rat myocardium. Hyperthyroid and control male Wistar rats were subjected to ischaemia-reperfusion stress using the Langendorff technique, and the PTHrP and PTH.1R expression was assessed by relative quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In the Langendorff model, the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure at the end of the stablization period and 45 min into the reperfusion period was used to assess the cardioprotective actions of T4 administration. Our data show that hyperthyroid animals had increased tolerance to the ischaemia-reperfusion stress and that this was associated with an increase of PTHrP and PTH.1R expression levels compared with those of control animals. In the control animals, the expression of PTHrP was increased 45 min into the reperfusion phase, while the PTH.1R expression pattern was significantly and gradually decreased throughout the ischaemia and reperfusion phases. In the hyperthyroid animals, the PTHrP and PTH.1R expression pattern was significantly higher throughout the ischaemia and reperfusion phases compared with that of control hearts. Our data suggest that increasing levels of PTHrP and PTH.1R expression can mediate, at least in part, the T4 administration-induced cardioprotection in rat ventricular myocardium.

Combined androgen blockade therapy can convert RT-PCR detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) transcripts from positive to negative in the peripheral blood of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer and increase biochemical failure-free survival after curative therapy.

BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of positive molecular staging as defined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detections of both prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) transcripts in the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with prostate cancer is still debatable. METHODS: We analyzed the biochemical failure-free survival (bFFS) of prostate cancer patients with positive molecular staging who underwent immediate curative therapy (Group I, n=39) compared to prostate cancer patients who did convert their positive molecular staging by the administration of combined androgen blockade (CAB) for 12 months prior to curative treatment (Group II, n=15). RESULTS: The median bFFS for Group I was 9 months (95% CI 5-13 months) and was significantly lower compared to Group II (>36 months, p<0.001). In Group I, the median time for PSA values of >2.0 ng/mL was 18 months (95% CI 12-21 months, range 12-36 months). Notably, only one patient from Group II reached PSA values>2.0 ng/mL at 36 months post-curative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with clinically localized prostate cancer and positive RT-PCR detection of PSA and PSMA transcripts in PB, CAB can convert positive molecular staging status to negative and by doing so it modifies the post-curative therapy bFFS of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Implants of type I collagen gel containing MG-63 osteoblast-like cells can act as stable scaffolds stimulating the bone healing process at the sites of the surgically-produced segmental diaphyseal defects in male rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3-D) type I collagen gel culture systems allow long-term growth of osteoblast-like cells, in vitro. Whether the implantation of 3-D collagen systems can stimulate new bone formation was assessed in male rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 10-mm segmental diaphyseal defect was surgically produced at the left and right limbs of 50 adult male rabbits. The 3-D systems containing MG-63 osteoblast-like cells were implanted at the right-limb defects of all 50 animals. Twenty-five left-limb defects were implanted with 3-D collagen gels containing no MG-63 cells, while the rest were left empty. The bone repair process was serially assessed by radiography for up to 8 weeks and by histological analysis for up to the week 32 post-surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-four per cent (94%) of the right-limb defects, presented radiographic evidence of complete bone-end bridging within 8 weeks. None of the 50 left-limb defects presented radiographic post-implantation evidence of bone-end bridging. The radiographic evidence of the bone-end bridging was corroborated with histological evidence of new bone formation, while the medullar canals were filled with bone marrow elements. CONCLUSION: Implants of the 3-D collagen gels containing osteoblast-like cells can be used as stable scaffolds allowing the migration/proliferation of the bone regenerating cells in male rabbits.

Molecular detection of tyrosinase transcripts in peripheral blood from patients with malignant melanoma: correlation of PCR sensitivity threshold with clinical and pathologic disease characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Positive molecular detection of tyrosinase transcripts (TYR mRNA) in RNA extracts of peripheral blood (PB) samples from patients with malignant melanoma provides evidence of disease dissemination. METHODS: Total RNA extracted from PB was quantified and subjected to RT-PCR under ultra-sensitive and reduced-sensitivity PCR conditions using SSRT-II. Positive TYR mRNA detection in 78 melanoma patients and 40 healthy volunteers was correlated with clinical stage, Breslow's evaluation of tumor thickness, Clark's assessment of tumor invasion, the location of the primary tumor site, and tumor histology. The assay sensitivity was evaluated by spiking PB with the melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28. RESULTS: Using ultra-sensitive PCR conditions, eight out of 40 RNA (20%) samples from healthy volunteers and 50 out of 78 RNA (64.1%) samples from melanoma patients tested positive. Using reduced-sensitivity PCR conditions, we found only two positives in 40 RNA samples from healthy subjects and 20 positives in 78 RNA samples (25.6%) from melanoma patients. Only positive PCR samples for the reduced-sensitivity PCR assay correlated significantly with stage IV (metastatic) disease (p=0.0395). There was no significant correlation between positive TYR mRNA samples for either PCR condition (ultra-sensitive and reduced-sensitivity) with Breslow's classification of tumor thickness, Clark's assessment of tumor invasion, location of the primary tumor site, and type of tumor histology. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that reduced-sensitivity rather than ultra-sensitive PCR conditions correlate with clinical stage in melanoma patients.

Serum testosterone: A potentially adjunct screening test for the assessment of the risk of prostate cancer among men with modestly elevated PSA values (> or =3.0 and <10.0 ng/ml).

Whether serum testosterone (T) can become an adjunct test able to validate the PSA-weighted risk of prostate cancer (PR.CA) in the "grey" diagnostic area (PSA =3.0 to <10.0 ng/ml) was investigated. Seven hundred and eighteen men participated in a prostate screening program using the cutoff PSA value of > or =3.0 ng/ml. PR.CA was found in 26% (22/85) of men with PSA testing within the "grey" diagnostic area and 58% (7/12) with PSA testing > or =10 ng/ml, among the 97 men who agreed to undergo transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (TRUS-guided biopsy). The PSA values showed a statistically significant positive association with diagnosis of PR.CA, whereas T and the T/PSA ratio were inversely and significantly related to the disease. In addition, out of 718 subjects, 45 (2.6%) were found to have a T value <2.6 ng/ml and another 78 (10.8%) had "low normal T value" (2.6> or = T <3.0 ng/ml). Of the hypogonadal men, 16 received testosterone enanthate (depot T; 250 mg/ml oily injection, intramuscularly: i.m.; TRT) and three had PSA levels >3.0 ng/mlpost-TRT; one was eventually diagnosed with PR.CA. An empirically-determined cut-off of the T/PSA ratio [>95 ("negative") or <0.95 ("positive")] was found to be optimal with regard to both sensitivity/specificity. This test was "positive" among 95.5% of the PR.CA patients, whereas 81% of biopsies confirmed that non-PR.CA had a "negative" TIPSA ratio, indicating that this ratio can become an adjunct screening test in assessing the risk of PR. CA; in particular, the odds of PR. CA increasing sharply (1/0.08= 12.5 times) with a decrease of the TIPSA ratio by one standard deviation. We conclude that the measurement of the serum T value can become an adjunct test validating further the PSA-weighted risk of PR. CA within the "grey" diagnostic area.

Combination therapy using LHRH and somatostatin analogues plus dexamethasone in androgen ablation refractory prostate cancer patients with bone involvement: a bench to bedside approach.

The development of resistance to anticancer therapies is a major hurdle in preventing long-lasting clinical responses to conventional therapies in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Herein, the molecular evidence documenting that bone metastasis microenvironment survival factors (mainly the paracrine growth hormone-independent, urokinase-type plasminogen activator-mediated increase of IGF-1 and the endocrine production of growth hormone-dependent IGF-1, mainly liver-derived IGF-1 production) produce an epigenetic form of prostate cancer cells that are resistant to proapoptotic therapies is reviewed. Consequently, the authors present the conceptual framework of a novel antibone microenvironment survival factor, mainly an anti-IGF-1 hormonal manipulation for androgen ablation refractory prostate cancer (a combination of conventional androgen ablation therapy [luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist-A or orchiectomy]) with dexamethasone plus somatostatin analogue, which yielded durable objective responses and major improvement of bone pain and performance status in stage D3 prostate cancer patients.

Bone-related growth factors and zoledronic acid regulate the PTHrP/PTH.1 receptor bioregulation systems in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells.

Bisphosphonates are known to inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast differentiation and are currently used in the treatment of Paget's disease, osteoporosis, metastatic and osteolytic bone disease and hypercalcaemia of malignancy. The parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and type 1 PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH.1R) bioregulation systems mediate a wide range of local paracrine/autocrine and intracrine functions in various tissues and modify the actions of pharmaceutical agents on target tissues, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, bone microenvironment-related growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), can modify the actions of various pharmaceutical agents, including cytotoxic drugs in malignant cell lines. Whether IGF-1, TGF beta 1, bFGF, IL-6 and zoledronic acid affect the expressions of PTHrP and PTH.1R in MG-63 osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells was investigated in this study. Relative quantitative-PCR (expression at mRNA level) and immunofluorescence analysis (localization of the expression at protein level) were employed to assess PTHrP and PTH.IR expressions. Our data showed that primarily IGF-1, TGF beta 1 and IL-6 (up to 25 ng/ml for 48 h) increased PTHrP mRNA expression and modified its perinuclear localization, while zoledronic acid (up to 100 microM for 48 h) inhibited cell proliferation and suppressed PTHrP expression in the MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. These growth factors were incapable of reversing the zoledronic acid decrease of the expression of PTHrP in the MG-63 cells, suggesting that zoledronic acid and the growth factors affect PTHrP expression via an independent intracellular signal transduction pathway in these cells. However, no appreciable modulation of the PTH.1R expression by IGF-1, TGF beta 1, bFGF, IL-6 or zoledronic acid was detected in MG-63 cells. Therefore, we conclude that PTHrP expression possibly mediates the action of bone microenvironment-related growth factors and of zoledronic acid in MG-63 cells.

Molecular staging by RT-pCR analysis for PSA and PSMA in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples is an independent predictor of time to biochemical failure following radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Radical prostatectomy should ideally be curative for all patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (PrCa), yet a sizeable proportion of them eventually relapse. We examined in this setting the feasibility of pre-operative risk stratification for early post-operative relapse using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) transcripts in preoperative bone marrow (BM) biopsies and peripheral blood (PBL) samples. Nested RT-PCR for PSA and PSMA transcripts were performed in RNA from BM biopsies and PBL samples prospectively obtained from 111 men newly diagnosed, by trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy, with clinically localized PrCa and scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy, according to their respective doctors' recommendation. Molecular analysis for each sample (PBL or BM) was considered positive only if both PSA and PSMA transcripts were detectable. Serial serum PSA level measurements served for biochemical follow-up and detection of biochemical failure (PSA >0.2 ng/ml). PBL and BM RT-PCR molecular staging delineated three groups of patients (a) PBL-BM- (72 patients, 65%), (b) PBL+BM+ (29 patients, 26%), and (c) PBL+BM- (10 patients, 9%). These three groups corresponded to low, high, and intermediate risk for early post-prostatectomy recurrence (median time to biochemical failure of >38, 8, and >28 months, respectively). Multivariate analysis confirmed that molecular staging status was independent predictor of disease-free survival, after adjusting for PSA levels and Gleason score. In clinically localized PrCa, combined PSA/PSMA RT-PCR in PBL and BM is an independent predictor of time to biochemical failure following radical prostatectomy.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 mRNA expression in endometriotic lesions and eutopic endometrium: implications for the pathophysiology of endometriosis.

The peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis contains an increased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) bioavailability, which is produced by limited hydrolysis of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). Recently, IGF-1 was shown to inhibit apoptosis of endometrial-like cells in vitro, suggesting that a microenvironment of increased IGF-1 bioavailability can optimize the survival of endometrial cells grown ectopically. Here the expression of mRNA of IGFBP-3 and uPA in tissue biopsies from eutopic endometrium and endometriotic lesions obtained at laparoscopy from women with endometriosis have been analyzed, and it is documented that both IGFBP-3 and uPA mRNA expression are increased from 3- to 10-fold in endometriotic lesions versus eutopic endometrium. Consequently, the necessary components (uPA and IGFBP-3 expression) of endocrine/autocrine/paracrine enhancement of local IGF bioavailability mediated by uPA hydrolysis of the IGFBP-3 were present in endometriotic lesions. These data possibly explain the origin of the increased content of uPA activity, IGF-1 bioavailability, and NH(2)-truncated forms of IGFBP-3 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.