Does Immunotherapy Have a Role in the Management of Endometriosis?

Brief Summary: Pathological specimens of 40 women that had been operated for endometriosis will be included in this study. These tissues will be stained with a marker named as PDL-1 in pathological examination. "programmed cell death (PD-1)" is expressed on T cells. The immunotherapies in which antibodies against these PD-1 and its ligands (PDL-1) have been used are accepted as very effective in the treatment of many cancers. If these ligands can be shown in the endometriosis, it will be an important step for the treatment of endometriosis.

Detailed Description: 40 women who had been operated for endometriosis between 2013 and 2014 will be included in this study. Pathological specimens will be stained with an immunohistochemical marker named as PDL-1. "programmed cell death (PD-1)" is a protein containing 288 aminoacids and expressed on T cells. It was shown on apoptotic cells in earlier times, but then it has been understood that its physiologic role is not cell death. The upregulation of PD-1 is a result of the activation of T cells and it is necessary for the termination of immune response. PD-L1 is a ligand for PD-1. The immunotherapies in which antibodies against these PD-1 and its ligands (especially PDL-1) provides significant improvements in many cancers such as melanoma. Evidence about the role of these ligands in endometriosis will be an important step in its management.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
immunohistochemical staining	6 months	immunohistochemical staining with PD-L1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

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