Therapeutic effects of DCA

We will determine whether dichloroacetate (DCA) can alter the peritoneal environment and halt the growth of endometriosis lesions in women with endometriosis. We will evaluate the impact of DCA in an in-vivo model of endometriosis on (a) glycolysis/lactate production in the peritoneal mesothelium (b) endometriosis lesion growth (c) endometriosis-associated pain behaviour. The effect of DCA will also be tested in vitro, on CSC spheroids generated from endometrium/endometrioma, in collaboration with our KI partner (see WP5). In addition, UEDIN and AQUILA will identify DCA-responsive proteins/functional pathways as future candidate targets for therapeutic development. The effect of Dichloroacetate on a putative stem cell phenotype will be tested in vitro, on CSC spheroids generated from endometrium/endometrioma (see WP5).