University of Liverpool Study Identifies Molecular Features of Adenomyosis That May Support More Targeted Treatments

University of Liverpool Study Identifies Molecular Features of Adenomyosis That May Support More Targeted Treatments

(IN BRIEF) University of Liverpool researchers have identified distinctive molecular and biological characteristics in adenomyosis lesions that could help support the development of more targeted treatments for the condition. Using spatial transcriptomics to compare diseased and healthy tissue from the same uterus, the team found that adenomyosis lesions have a unique molecular profile, show signs of persistent inflammation and altered energy production, and share features with the deeper layer of the womb lining. These findings may help explain how the disease develops and persists. The researchers also identified existing and emerging medicines that could potentially address some of the biological changes found in the lesions. Although further research is needed, the work could contribute to treatments that preserve healthy uterine tissue, reduce the need for major surgery and help protect fertility.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 3-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — A University of Liverpool research team has produced new molecular evidence that could support the development of more precise treatments for adenomyosis, a widely under-recognised uterine condition that can cause debilitating pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and fertility complications.

The study, led by researchers in Professor Dharani Hapangama’s gynaecology research group, examined the biological makeup of adenomyosis lesions in greater detail than previously possible. The results point to characteristics that may allow future therapies to focus on diseased areas of the uterus while preserving healthy tissue.

Adenomyosis occurs when tissue similar to the womb lining becomes embedded within the muscular wall of the uterus. It is estimated to affect up to one in five women of reproductive age, yet it has received comparatively limited attention in research and clinical care despite its potential effect on everyday life, reproductive health and wellbeing.

The condition was once thought to occur mainly in older women. However, increasing recognition among younger women, including those who may want to have children, has added urgency to efforts to improve diagnosis and identify treatment approaches that do not compromise fertility.

Existing options can be restrictive. Hormonal treatments may control symptoms but can prevent pregnancy, while hysterectomy remains an option for some patients with severe disease. Limited understanding of how adenomyosis begins and persists has made it difficult to develop alternatives that directly address the underlying disease process.

To address this gap, the Liverpool team compared adenomyosis lesions with unaffected tissue from the same uterus. They used spatial transcriptomics, an advanced approach that shows which genes are active across different cell types without removing those cells from their original position in the tissue.

The technique was applied to human uterine tissue in this way for the first time. By preserving the architecture of the tissue, the researchers were able to study how diseased areas differ from surrounding healthy areas while retaining the local biological context that is often lost through more conventional laboratory methods.

Their analysis showed that adenomyosis lesions have a recognisable molecular identity that differs from healthy uterine tissue. This distinctive pattern may provide a foundation for treatments designed to selectively act on lesions rather than affecting the uterus more broadly.

The research also found that lesion tissue shares features with the deeper, more stable layer of the womb lining. This may help researchers understand how the disease becomes established within the uterine muscle and why it can remain active over time.

Signs of ongoing inflammation and changes in cellular energy production were also identified in the affected tissue. These findings may be relevant to the mechanisms behind common symptoms of adenomyosis, including severe pain and heavy bleeding.

Using the molecular data generated by the study, the researchers identified several existing medicines and emerging drug candidates that may be capable of reversing some of the biological changes seen in adenomyosis lesions. Further laboratory and clinical research will be needed before any of these potential treatments can be evaluated for use in patients.

Dr Alison Maclean, NIHR Clinical Lecturer, who carried out the study during her MRC clinical research training fellowship, said: “This study provides important new insights into what is happening within adenomyosis lesions at a molecular level. By identifying the features that distinguish diseased tissue from healthy tissue, we are laying the groundwork for treatments that could directly target the condition while preserving the uterus and normal womb lining. Ultimately, our goal is to develop safe and effective therapies that help women avoid major surgery and protect their fertility where possible.”

The findings are published in Science Advances in the paper, Spatial transcriptomics uncovers the hybrid molecular identity, ciliated phenotype, and immune signature of adenomyosis lesions (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aea6379).

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SOURCE: University of Liverpool