Menstrual stem cells in endometriosis
Study of the Role of Menstrual Blood-derived Stem Cells and the Immune Environment in Endometriosis
This project will see if menstrual blood stem cells from women with endometriosis behave differently at the molecular and immune levels compared with cells from women without endometriosis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University Rovira i Virgili Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Reus, Tarragona and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07578480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will collect menstrual blood from women aged 18–45, isolate menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) and perform in vitro functional, molecular and immunological analyses. Findings in MenSCs will be validated against endometrial tissue and endometrioma samples when available. Results will be correlated with clinical features to identify patterns linked to disease severity and symptoms. The study is observational and does not involve experimental treatments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Women aged 18–45 who can provide menstrual blood and either have a clinical/ecographic diagnosis of endometriosis or serve as controls without endometriosis, and who have not used hormonal, immunosuppressive, or antibiotic treatments in the prior 3 months are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 18 or over 45, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with active pelvic inflammatory or autoimmune disease, recent hormonal/immunosuppressive/antibiotic use, insufficient menstrual flow, active gynecological cancer, or positive HIV/HPV tests are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal cellular mechanisms that point to new biomarkers or therapeutic targets for endometriosis.
How similar studies have performed: A few smaller studies have characterized menstrual stem cells in gynecologic conditions, but broad molecular and immune profiling with direct tissue validation remains relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-45 years. * Endometriosis group: Women with clinical and/or ecographical diagnostic of endometriosis. * Control group: Women with the endometriosis diagnosis. Exclusion Criteria: * \<18 years or \>45 years. * Pregnancy or lactation. * Diagnosis of prior chronic pelvic inflammatory or autoimmune disease. * History of active gynecological cancer. * Positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human papillomavirus (HPV). * Hormonal therapy use in the previous 3 months. * Use of immunosuppressants or corticosteroids in the previous 3 months. * Systemic antibiotics use in the previous 3 months. * Insufficient menstrual flow to allow the MenSCs isolation.
Where this trial is running
Reus, Tarragona and 1 other locations
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut — Reus, Tarragona, Spain (Active_not_recruiting)
- Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII — Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Dr. Francisco Algaba-Chueca
- Email: francisco.algaba@urv.cat
- Phone: +34623966066
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.