Exploring the Shared Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Endometriosis and Cancer - Stemness and Targeted Treatments of Its Molecular Pathways - A Narrative Review

Sep 21, 2026

Endometriosis is a benign disorder with malignant behavior, overlapping substantially with cancer. Endometriosis involves endometrial tissue outside the uterus, including both glands and stroma, affecting about 10% of reproductive-age women and imposing major social and quality-of-life burdens. This narrative review summarizes shared pathogenesis mechanisms through molecular biology, emphasizing immunological alterations and stemness. It highlights stemness-driven treatment resistance and outlines future targeted, personalized therapeutic directions across both diseases, while noting the need for further research before firm conclusions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Endometriosis definition and epidemiology

Clinical manifestations and diagnosis

Association between endometriosis and cancers

Comorbidities and related disorders

Review Exploring the Shared Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Endometriosis and Cancer: Stemness and Targeted Treatments of Its Molecular Pathways—A Narrative Review Melinda-Ildiko Mitranovici 1, *, Dan Costachescu 2, *, Septimiu Voidazan 3, Mihai Munteanu 4, Corneliu-Florin Buicu 3, Ioan Emilian Oală 1, Viviana Ivan 5, Adrian Apostol 5, Ioana M. Melinte 3, Andrada Crisan 3, Lucian Pus, cas, iu 3 and Romeo Micu 6 Citation: Mitranovici, M.-I.; Costachescu, D.; Voidazan, S.; Munteanu, M.; Buicu, C.-F.; Oală, I.E.; Ivan, V.; Apostol, A.; Melinte, I.M.; Crisan, A.; et al. Exploring the Shared Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Endometriosis and Cancer: Stemness and Targeted Treatments of Its Molecular Pathways—A Narrative Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 12749. [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)ijms252312749 Academic Editor: Amelia Casamassimi Received: 8 October 2024 Revised: 15 November 2024 Accepted: 25 November 2024 Published: 27 November 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emergency County Hospital Hunedoara, 14 Victoriei Street, 331057 Hunedoara, Romania; [oalaioanemilian@gmail.com](oalaioanemilian@gmail.com) 2 Department of Orthopedics-Traumatology, Urology, Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania 3 Department of Epidemiology,“George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; [septimiu.voidazan@umfst.ro](septimiu.voidazan@umfst.ro) (S.V.); florin_buicu@yahoo.com (C.-F.B.); ioanammelinte@gmail.com (I.M.M.); crisanandrada@yahoo.com (A.C.); [puscasiu@gmail.com](puscasiu@gmail.com) (L.P.) 4 Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University, George Baritiu Street, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [mihai.munteanu@ethm.utcluj.ro](mihai.munteanu@ethm.utcluj.ro) 5 Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; [ivan.viviana@umft.ro](ivan.viviana@umft.ro) (V.I.); [adrian.apostol@umft.ro](adrian.apostol@umft.ro) (A.A.) 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [romeomicu@hotmail.com](romeomicu@hotmail.com) * [Correspondence: mitranovicimelinda@yahoo.ro](Correspondence: mitranovicimelinda@yahoo.ro) (M.-I.M.); [costachescu.dan@umft.ro](costachescu.dan@umft.ro) (D.C.) Abstract: Endometriosis is a benign disease but with malignant behavior, sharing numerous features with cancers. Endometriosis is the development of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, with the presence of both glands and stroma. Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis; it involves high social costs and affects the patient’s quality of life. In this review, we attempt to capture the pathogenesis mechanisms that are common to endometriosis and cancer based on molecular biology, focusing more on the principle of immunological changes and stemness. Clinical applicability will consist of targeted treatments that represent future directions in these diseases, which impose a burden on the healthcare system. Unlike endometriosis, cancer is a disease with fatal evolution, with conventional treatment based on chemo/radiotherapy. Here, we focus on the niche of personalized treatments that target molecular pathways. Our findings show that, in both pathologies, the resistance to treatments is due to the stemness of the stem cells, which might play a role in the appea

FAQs

What shared mechanisms does the review focus on between endometriosis and cancer?

The review focuses on immunological changes and stemness-related molecular biology mechanisms that are common to both conditions.

How common is endometriosis among reproductive-age women?

Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis.

Why are treatment responses linked to stemness in both diseases?

The review states that resistance to treatments is due to the stemness of stem cells, which may contribute to the appearance and evolution of both endometriosis and cancer.

Sep 21, 2026

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