Women with severe endometriosis are almost 10 times more likely to develop ovarian cancer.
- Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, causing many problems for affected women (pain, difficulty conceiving, etc.).
- A new study shows that these women are also 4.2 times more likely to develop ovarian cancer, with a greater association for grade I ovarian cancer.
- The researchers say further research is needed to determine what measures would be most effective in preventing these patients’ cancer risk.
Endometriosis is a common gynecologic condition affecting 10% to 15% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and is often associated with severe pelvic pain, fertility complications, and can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life (chronic pain, sleep disturbances, etc.). Several studies have already shown a possible relationship between this pathology and ovarian cancer, but thanks to this new analysis conducted by researchers from the Universities of Medicine of Utah and Boston, we know more about the incidence rates of different types of endometriosis and subtypes of ovarian cancer.
Severe endometriosis: 9.7 times more risk of developing ovarian cancer
To conduct their study, the researchers analyzed demographic data from Utah, from a cohort of more than 78,000 women with endometriosis. The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Associationshow that women suffering from endometriosis have a 4.2 times higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, even reaching a risk of 9.7 times for severe forms of the disease (ovarian endometrioma and/or deep infiltrating endometriosis).
These associations were much higher for type I ovarian cancers than for type II ovarian cancers. Type I ovarian cancer grows slowly but does not respond well to chemotherapy.
Endometriosis: how to prevent ovarian cancer?
“This has an impact on the clinical care of people with severe endometriosis, as they will be able to benefit from advice on the risk and prevention of ovarian cancer.”, said researcher Dr Jennifer Dohertyco-director of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.This research will also lead to further studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which specific types of endometriosis cause different types of ovarian cancer.”
As a preventative measure, women with endometriosis may have surgery, including hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or removal of the ovaries. However, these procedures are highly invasive, and researchers say more research is needed to determine whether these measures are wise.
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