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Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Schildkraut, JM; Schwingl, PJ; Bastos, E; Evanoff, A; Hughes, C
Published in: Obstet Gynecol
October 1996

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer, and to present three hypotheses regarding hormonal factors and the risk of ovarian cancer in women. METHODS: Data were analyzed from a population-based, case-control study, the Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, to test the hypotheses. Four hundred seventy-six subjects with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer were identified from eight tumor registries of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results program. The study included 4081 controls ascertained via random-digit telephone dialing. All subjects and controls were aged 20-54 years. RESULTS: Seven subjects with ovarian cancer and 24 controls reported that they had been diagnosed with PCOS before the study period. Ovarian cancer risk was found to increase 2.5-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-5.9) among women with PCOS. This association is found to be stronger among women who never used oral contraceptives (odds ratio [OR] 10.5, 95% CI 2.5-44.2) and women who were in the first quartile of body mass index (13.3-18.5 kg/m2) at age 18 (OR 15.6, 95% CI 3.4-71.0). CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the hormonal status of women with PCOS featuring abnormal patterns of gonadotropic secretion (enhanced levels of LH) in lean women may be a mitigating factor for the observed association between PCOS and ovarian cancer. We hope that our preliminary data stimulate further investigation of the testable hypotheses.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Obstet Gynecol

DOI

ISSN

0029-7844

Publication Date

October 1996

Volume

88

Issue

4 Pt 1

Start / End Page

554 / 559

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Odds Ratio
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Confidence Intervals
 

Citation

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Schildkraut, J. M., Schwingl, P. J., Bastos, E., Evanoff, A., & Hughes, C. (1996). Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol, 88(4 Pt 1), 554–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(96)00226-8
Schildkraut, J. M., P. J. Schwingl, E. Bastos, A. Evanoff, and C. Hughes. “Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Obstet Gynecol 88, no. 4 Pt 1 (October 1996): 554–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(96)00226-8.
Schildkraut JM, Schwingl PJ, Bastos E, Evanoff A, Hughes C. Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Oct;88(4 Pt 1):554–9.
Schildkraut, J. M., et al. “Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Obstet Gynecol, vol. 88, no. 4 Pt 1, Oct. 1996, pp. 554–59. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0029-7844(96)00226-8.
Schildkraut JM, Schwingl PJ, Bastos E, Evanoff A, Hughes C. Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Oct;88(4 Pt 1):554–559.
Journal cover image

Published In

Obstet Gynecol

DOI

ISSN

0029-7844

Publication Date

October 1996

Volume

88

Issue

4 Pt 1

Start / End Page

554 / 559

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Odds Ratio
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Confidence Intervals