Fibroid Growth Study

我们收集了各种数据，从肿瘤（纤维瘤）体积随时间变化的MRI测量（最多4个时间点）到选择手术的女性肿瘤的基因表达微阵列数据。 目前，我们正在分析和总结迄今为止在这项研究中获得的各种数据。 我们检查了肿瘤生长与患者特征（种族，年龄和肌瘤数量）和肿瘤特征（大小和在子宫中的位置）的关系。研究中共有72名女性参与了262个肿瘤的生长分析。 至少在两个时间点测量所有262个肿瘤的体积。 我们对这些数据的初步分析表明，女性之间和女性内部的平均肿瘤生长存在显著差异。 有趣的是，女性内部的差异是女性之间的两倍。黑人和白人有不同的纤维瘤生长模式取决于年龄。 在年轻女性（<35岁）中，肌瘤生长率不因种族而异。 然而，白人的增长率随着年龄的增长而下降，而黑人则没有。 对于白人来说，肿瘤在六个月内生长超过20%的几率也随着年龄的增长而下降，但黑人则不然。肿瘤大小、位置、BMI或产次均不影响生长率。子宫肌瘤自然消退。来自同一个女人的纤维瘤以不同的速度生长，尽管有一个统一的激素环境。 规模并不能预测增长率。 黑人和白人之间纤维瘤生长率的差异可能导致黑人女性的症状负担更高。

We have collected a variety of data, ranging from MRI measurements of tumor (fibroid) volumes over time (up to 4 time points) to gene expression microarray data obtained on tumors from women who opted for surgery. Currently we are in the process of analyzing and summarizing various data obtained in this study so far. We examined tumor growth in relation to patient characteristics (ethnicity, age, and number of fibroids) and tumor characteristics (size and position in the uterus). In all there were 72 women in the study contributing a total of 262 tumors for the analysis of growth. Volumes of all 262 tumors were measured at least at two time points. Our preliminary analysis of this data suggests that there was a significant variability in average tumor growth both, both between and within women. Interestingly, within woman variation was twice that of between women. Blacks and whites had different patterns of fibroid growth depending on age. Among young women (<35), fibroid growth rate did not vary by ethnicity. However, growth rates declined with age for whites but not blacks. The odds of a tumor growing more than 20% in six months also decreased with age for whites but not for blacks. Growth rates were not influenced by tumor size, location, BMI, or parity. Spontaneous regression of fibroids occurs. Fibroids from the same woman grow at different rates, despite a uniform hormonal milieu. Size does not predict growth rate. Age-related differences in fibroid growth rates between blacks and whites may contribute to the higher symptom burden for black women.