Emerging strategies for the treatment of endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder of the reproductive tract, affecting approximately 10 ​% of women. The symptoms of this condition are vague and not correlated with the disease's stage. These associated symptoms significantly impact women's overall well-being. The etiology of endometriosis remains inadequately understood, with coelomic metaplasia, lymphatic and vascular dissemination being regarded as additional hypotheses in addition to the retrograde menstruation theory. Endometriosis is primarily treated with drug therapy and surgical intervention, but the recurrence rate of symptoms after five years remains approximately 50 ​%. Therefore, the advancement of more effective and safe therapies for the treatment of endometriosis is of paramount importance. In this review, we introduce the utilization of photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia, gene therapy, immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, nanotechnology, and micron technology in the management of endometriosis. The objective is to provide novel research perspectives for therapeutic approaches and facilitate future clinical translation to enhance patient outcomes.