Molecular Research in Gynecological Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes five types of gynecologic cancers: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. GLOBOCAN 2020 reports that these cancers represent the fifth leading cause of death due to cancer. Notably, a screening test that can detect gynecological cancers in their early stages exists only for cervical cancer. Consequently, screening tests for these cancers are a high priority. This is especially true for ovarian cancers, which are associated with a poor outcome. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023 in the United States, 19,710 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 13,270 women will die from ovarian cancer.

It is well known that benign gynecological diseases affect a huge number of women. It is estimated that adenomyosis and leiomyomas (also known as uterine fibroids) each affect approximately 20% of women of reproductive age and that endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) each affect approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Other benign gynecological conditions also affect a significant percentage of women. However, benign gynecological diseases are oftentimes ignored. For example, in reference to endometriosis, the New York Times (April 27, 2021) states "Yet, it suffers from a branding problem: It falls into the abyss of “women’s diseases” (overlooked), diseases that do not kill you (unimportant), and menstrual problems (taboo)", and the Guardian (June 2, 2022) states "Doctors’ routine dismissal of women’s debilitating health problems as “benign” has contributed to gynaecology waiting lists soaring by 60% to more than half a million patients, a senior health leader has said." While benign gynecological diseases are generally not fatal, they have a significant adverse effect on the quality of life of millions of women.

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences introduces this Special Issue to create a collection of papers on specific topics and build a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. This Special Issue is soliciting review articles, original research articles, and short communications regarding the molecular aspects of gynecological diseases. These include identifying markers that can be used in the screening and diagnosis of relevant gynecological diseases, investigating DNA mutations and cellular signalling pathways that lead to the development of the disease, investigating the involvement of the microbiota in various gynecological diseases, and identifying targets that can be used in the treatment of the disease including potential targets for CRISPR-mediated therapies.

Dr. David B. Alexander
Guest Editor

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