Preclinical CRO Services for Endometriosis Disease
Endometriosis is a complex and often painful medical condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Developing effective treatments for endometriosis involves the use of in vitro and in vivo models helpful to decipher the mechanisms of the disease.
Oncodesign Services offers access to several standard translational models addressing a variety of inflammation pathologies, including endometriosis, and provides CRO support for de novo development of new therapies.
Introduction to endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder affecting women of reproductive age. It is estimated to affect around 10% of women globally.
Endometriosis is often associated with chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), and pain during intercourse. Besides, approximately 30-50% of women with endometriosis may experience infertility due to the impact on the reproductive organs. Further more, endometrial tissue can cause adhesions and scarring in the pelvic region, leading to organ dysfunction and pain.
Endometriosis imposes significant healthcare costs, including diagnosis, treatment, and management of associated complications. Women with endometriosis may experience reduced work productivity due to symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Finally, this condition can affect daily functioning, leading to a decrease in the overall quality of life for those affected.
Endometriosis models: a complex way to mimic the reality
Preclinical research often involves the use of animal models, such as rodents (mice and rats) and non-human primates. In the context of treatment development, they are used to assess the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of potential therapeutic agents, including hormonal therapies, anti-inflammatory drugs, and targeted therapies.
Mice are commonly used due to their genetic tractability and relatively low cost. Model of choice consists of inducing endometriosis-like lesions by injecting endometrial fragments or cells into the peritoneal cavity of mice. The severity of the inflammation of the lesions can be aggravated by substance P addition, for instance.
In vitro models involve culturing human endometrial cells or endometrial stromal cells in a controlled laboratory environment. These models can help researchers understand cellular processes, signaling pathways, and the effects of drugs on endometrial tissue.
In Ex vivo models, endometrial tissue samples from patients undergoing surgery for endometriosis are cultured ex vivo. This allows researchers to study the behavior of endometrial tissue in a more physiologically relevant environment outside the body.
Typical readouts for endometriosis models
Tissue growth
Embryo Development and implantation
Oviduct transport
Lesion size
Gene expression
Cell proliferation
Apoptosis parameters
Discover Oncodesign Services pre-clinical models of endometriosis
Oncodesign Services offers CRO services for several preclinical models addressing a variety of inflammatory, fibrotic and auto-immune pathologies, and provides support for the de novo development of new models recently described in literature.
Using this combined expertise, we are currently developing endometriosis rodent models to support our clients in the development of treatment solutions.
