Association between Cigarette Smoking and Histotype-Specific Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Review of Epidemiologic Studies

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated that smoking can influence ovarian cancer risk and survival; however, the number of studies investigating this relationship according to histologic subtypes is limited. We conducted a review of epidemiologic research that assessed the role of smoking on ovarian cancer risk and survival after diagnosis, specifically capturing studies that discerned between various histologic subtypes of this disease. In the majority of studies, current smoking was associated with increased risk of mucinous cancer. There was also evidence of a decreased risk of clear cell and endometrioid histotypes. No significant association was observed between cigarette smoking and serous cancer. In the studies investigating the relationship between smoking and survival, all the studies reported an increased risk of mortality associated with smoking. Smoking appeared to be a risk factor for both ovarian cancer risk and mortality. Future studies need to investigate further a potential link between smoking and ovarian cancer by having a better assessment of exposure to smoking and having a larger number of participants with the ability to detect associations within rare histotypes.

Utility of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer Patients

“…Although cigarette smoking is one of the most important factors that increases the risk of several types of cancer, no significant association has been found between smoking and the overall risk of ovarian cancer. 95,96 However, it should be noted that female smokers have an increased risk of mucinous carcinoma. 34,[96][97][98] Furthermore, smoking patients with ovarian cancer had a worse prognosis compared to non-smoking ovarian cancer patients.…”