Biomarker Development for Endometriosis

Endometriosis debilitates many women in the U.S. and around the world which is characterized by lesions either localized on the uterus or attached to other organs. These lesions act as endometrial tissue which means that during the monthly menstrual cycle, this tissue sheds which results in blood being stuck in body cavities. The only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is to go through a laparoscopic procedure which is invasive and expensive. Patients may avoid their endometriosis and rely on pain medications to get relief from their symptoms. Biomarkers can be the next method of diagnosis which is noninvasive. Biomarkers can be taken from proteins during angiogenesis, blood, urine, saliva, and genomics. Blood and saliva have a common biomarker of miRNA. CA-125 in the blood is the most common biomarker used to detect endometriosis but it isn’t always accurate. Saliva can remain stable without extra precautions which makes it an ideal method of gaining and testing biomarkers. However, a panel of biomarkers may also be beneficial. Additionally, there may be specific genes in DNA that can show that a patient has endometriosis. An efficient, non-invasive diagnosis method is needed to reduce the amount of time taken to get a diagnosis and get treatment for symptoms closer to the onset of the disease.