Proteomic technologies in biomarker discovery for the non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis

Endometriosis is an oestrogen-driven, chronic inflammatory disease characterised by the ectopic presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, leading to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and a reduction in quality of life. The prevalence is estimated at 10% in women of reproductive age, which equates to 190 million women worldwide. The gold standard for diagnosis is laparoscopy, which is a surgical procedure that allows direct visualisation of lesions and the collection of tissue for histological confirmation. Diagnostic delays of 12 years due to the non-specific nature of the symptoms and lack of non-invasive diagnostic tests are challenges faced by patients with endometriosis. Proteomics technologies are useful in the identification of numerous proteins that are altered in the presence of disease. These tools offer promising avenues for improving the diagnosis and management of endometriosis by allowing the simultaneous detection and analysis of hundreds of proteins with the focus of revealing disease-specific molecular changes and identifying novel biomarkers. This article will provide an overview of the current landscape of proteomics-based approaches in endometriosis research while highlighting the potential of these technologies to identify biomarkers for early non-invasive diagnosis, leading to better outcomes for the millions of women affected by endometriosis.