We are launching our new thematic section, in which we will present you, at regular intervals, the most important research findings on endometriosis and adenomyosis worldwide. The studies and their findings will be presented in a simple and understandable way, while at the end of each study, the clinical significance of its findings will be explained.
So, we start our thematic section with 3 studies, from the beginning of 2026 until today:
STUDY 1
Title: DETECT — Non-invasive SPECT-CT imaging for the diagnosis of endometriosis
Journal: The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health
Publication date: April 30, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/S3050-5038(26)00048-8
Summary:
The diagnosis of endometriosis continues to require laparoscopy in many cases, resulting in the well-documented diagnostic delay that averages 7–9 years. The Phase 2 DETECT study, conducted at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Serac Healthcare, tested a novel radiopharmaceutical imaging agent, 99mTc-maraciclatide, which selectively binds to αvβ3 integrins — receptors expressed in endometriotic lesions as a result of neoangiogenesis and inflammation.
The study enrolled 20 women with confirmed or suspected endometriosis, who underwent SPECT-CT imaging prior to a scheduled laparoscopy. Of the 19 who completed both phases, the new imaging method correctly identified the presence or absence of disease in 16 (accuracy rate 84%), including cases of superficial peritoneal endometriosis — the most common form of the disease, which consistently evades detection by ultrasound and MRI.
Clinical significance:
If these findings are confirmed in Phase 3, maraciclatide could become the first non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of all endometriosis phenotypes, fundamentally transforming the diagnostic approach and significantly reducing the delay to diagnosis.
STUDY 2
Title: The largest genetic study of endometriosis and adenomyosis ever conducted
Journal: Nature Genetics
Publication date: April 30, 2026
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-026-02582-2
Summary:
An international consortium of researchers from Yale School of Medicine and the Sant Pau Research Institute in Barcelona published the largest genetic study of endometriosis conducted to date. The genomes of approximately 1.4 million women were analyzed, including over 105,000 cases of endometriosis, with representation from six different ancestral groups (32% non-European ancestry).
The key findings are as follows: 80 genomic regions associated with increased risk of endometriosis were identified, of which 37 are new discoveries. Five of these genetic loci were found to be shared between endometriosis and adenomyosis, contributing to the clarification of whether these represent two distinct conditions or phenotypic expressions of the same disease. Multi-omics analyses (transcriptomic, epigenetic, and proteomic) linked the genetic risk factors to pathways involving cell differentiation, hormonal regulation, immune dysregulation, and inflammation. In addition, drug-repurposing analyses highlighted already approved medications — used for breast cancer, contraception, and preterm birth prevention — as potential therapeutic options for endometriosis.
Clinical significance:
This study represents the most comprehensive mapping of the genetic architecture of endometriosis to date. The data regarding the shared genetic basis of endometriosis and adenomyosis have direct clinical implications for the classification and individualized management of patients, while the newly identified therapeutic targets are expected to inform clinical trials in the years ahead.
STUDY 3
Title: Non-invasive blood test using microRNA for the early diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents
Institution / Source: Yale School of Medicine
Publication date: January 2026
Summary:
The diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents and young women represents a particular challenge: the diagnostic delay in this age group can reach 14 years, as symptoms are frequently attributed to dysmenorrhea or other causes. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine sought to develop a non-invasive blood test based on microRNAs (miRNA) — small non-coding RNA molecules that reflect pathophysiological changes in the body.
The study included 51 adolescents and young women aged 13–26 years with pelvic pain, who underwent gynecologic surgery between 2019 and 2024. Prior to surgery, blood samples were collected for miRNA profile analysis. Endometriosis was confirmed at surgery in 31 of the 51 patients. Comparison of the blood samples revealed distinct differences in miRNA expression, with signatures unique to the early stages of the disease.
Clinical significance:
This is the first study to validate the use of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis exclusively in an adolescent population. Validation studies in larger cohorts are required before clinical implementation, but the direction is clear: a simple blood test could in the future replace laparoscopy as the first diagnostic step, particularly in younger age groups.