Research article summary (published 13 Jan 1993):

Personal characteristics relating to risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer in older women in the United States.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND. The ovarian cancer incidence rate is higher for women over 55 years of age than for younger women, but it increases less rapidly with age after age 55 years than before. This slower rate of increase suggests that the postmenopausal ovary may be less exposed or less susceptible than the functioning one to endogenous or exogenous carcinogens. For example, it is not exposed to mitotic stimuli at follicle rupture, which may increase the likelihood of malignancy. METHODS. Findings from a collaborative analysis of 12 U.S. case-control studies are used to examine associations between invasive epithelial ovarian cancer and certain reproductive and hormonal characteristics, and to determine if those associations change as women age. RESULTS. Ovarian cancer risk reductions were associated with pregnancy (regardless of outcome), lactation, and oral contraceptive use. The percentage risk reduction associated with pregnancy was smaller for older women than younger women, although the absolute magnitude of the risk reduction increased with age. In contrast, the percentage risk reduction associated with oral contraceptive use was greater for older women. The total duration of ovulation was strongly associated with increased risk in women under 55 years of age, but not in older women. CONCLUSIONS. The greater protection to older women associated with oral contraceptive use suggests that the early high-potency contraceptive formulations used by these women may have been more protective than recent ones. The sparsity of strong risk factors in older women emphasizes the need for sensitive and specific markers for early detection of ovarian malignancy in this age group.

Author information

Author/s: Whittemore, A S (AS);

Affiliation: Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5092.

Grants: CA 47448 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Cancer (Cancer), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1993-Jan; vol 71 (issue 2 Suppl) : pp 558-65

Dates: Created 1993/02/16; Completed 1993/02/16; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 8420677, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Aged Aging - physiology Case-Control Studies Contraceptives, Oral - pharmacology Epithelium - pathology Estrogen Replacement Therapy Female Humans

Humans Menstruation - physiology Middle Aged Neoplasm Invasiveness Ovarian Neoplasms - epidemiology Ovulation - physiology Parity - physiology Risk Factors United States - epidemiology

Associated Chemicals: Contraceptives, Oral (0)

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