Animal models of uterine leiomyomas: a review

Abstract

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common pelvic tumor affecting women. Seventy percent of women will present with them at some point in their lives. Despite this, there is a lack of appropriate pharmacotherapeutic agents and preventive measures, and its etiology and pathophysiology are not properly understood, mainly because of the lack of reliable in vivo models. A systematized review was performed to analyze all reported vivo models of uterine fibroids, consolidate current understanding, and guide further research on the topic. We aim to contribute to those who wish to develop novel models and those who want to reproduce current ones to study the effects of new drugs on the disease or its pathogenic mechanisms. Literature searches with the key words “leiomyoma,” “myoma,” “fibroid,” “uterine fibroid,” “xenografting,” and “experimental animal model” were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and LILACS. Several novel models of leiomyomas have been proposed lately for a variety of animal species. We have discussed the findings, advantages, and limitations of the existing animal models of uterine fibroids, besides explaining the rationale behind their use. Researchers must be aware of limitations of the existing models and choose the model that best fits their needs. To facilitate reproducibility and translation of findings, methods must be described in detail. Given the context, special attention should be paid when providing conclusions. Besides equivalent histology and immunomarkers, a trustworthy model should also display all of the genetic expressions of human myomas.