Sylvia Kurimská, Martin Redecha
Endometriosis is a systematic benign oestrogen-dependent disorder affecting women in reproductive age. However, it shows some characteristical signs of malignant behaviour. Several studies confirmed the association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer of endometrioid or clear cell histological type. Besides ovarian carcinoma malignant transformation of endometriosis in other sites is rare. Allelic instability and loss of heterozygosity is considered to be responsible for malignant transformation at genetic level. To endometriosis associated carcinogenesis might be supported by oxidative stress. The possible malignant potential of endometriosis holds serious implications for management and disease treatment.