Body mass index and risk of ovarian cancer

Abstract

Convincing epidemiologic evidence links excess body mass to increased risks of endometrial and postmenopausal breast cancers but the relation of body mass index (BMI) to ovarian cancer risk remains inconclusive. Potential similarities regarding a hormonal mechanism in the etiology of female cancers highlight the importance of investigating associations according to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use. However, data addressing whether the relation of BMI to ovarian cancer differs by MHT use are very sparse. We prospectively investigated the association between BMI and ovarian cancer among 94,525 U.S. women, followed from 1996–1997 to December 31, 2003. During 7 years of follow-up, we documented 303 epithelial ovarian cancer cases. As compared with normal weight women (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), the multivariate relative risk (MVRR) of ovarian cancer for obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) in the cohort as a whole was 1.25 (95%-CI=0.93–1.68). Among women who never used MHT, the MVRR for obese versus normal weight women was 1.80 (95%-CI=1.16–2.80). In contrast, no relation between BMI and ovarian cancer was apparent among women who ever used MHT (MVRR=0.96; 95%-CI=0.64–1.43; P-interaction=0.02). Exploratory analyses also suggested a positive association between BMI and ovarian cancer among women without a family history of ovarian cancer (MVRR comparing obese versus normal weight women=1.36; 95%-CI=0.99–1.85), but no relation with BMI was apparent among women with a positive family history of ovarian cancer (MVRR=0.73; 95%-CI=0.34–1.60; P-interaction=0.02). We suspect that obesity is associated with enhanced ovarian cancer risk through a hormonal mechanism.

Value of the Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio in the Diagnosis of Ovarian Neoplasms in Adolescents

“…They reported that a 16% increased risk of ovarian cancer for adult overweight and a 30% increased risk for adult obesity when compared with normal weight. Leitzmann et al (2009) also suggested that both overweight and obesity at age 18 years positively associated with ovarian cancer. Both authors concluded that adiposity enhances ovarian cancer risk partly through the mitogenic effects of excess endogenous estrogens synthesized in the adipose tissue.…”

Body Mass Index Effects on Risk of Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

“…No Figure 1) including 10 cohort studies (Engeland et al, 2003;Schouten et al, 2003;Anderson et al, 2004;Niwa et al, 2005;Lacey Jr et al, 2006;Leitzmann et al, 2009;Chionh et al, 2010;Kotsopoulos et al, 2010;Lahmann et al, 2010;Weiderpass et al, 2012) involving 29,237,219 person-years and 9 case-control studies (Riman et al, 2001;Kuper et al, 2002;Beehler et al, 2006;Peterson et al, 2006;Nagle et al, 2008;Olsen et al, 2008;Wernli et al, 2008;Delort et al, 2009;Moorman et al, 2009) involving 96,965 people (Table 1). …”

“…Ovarian cancer accounts for about 4% of all female cancers (Anderson et al, 2004). Its five-year survival rate is 37% (Beehler et al, 2006;Leitzmann et al, 2009).…”

“…At present, only a small number of risk factors have been identified, including age, nulliparity, and family history of ovarian cancer. In contrast, parity and oral contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer (Brinton et al, 2004;Beehler et al, 2006;Peterson et al, 2006;Bandera, 2007;Leitzmann et al, 2009).…”

Physical Activity and Cancer

“…Indeed, Leitzmann et al (2009a) found that obesity increased the risk of ovarian cancer by nearly 80% in post-menopausal women who had not used menopausal hormonal therapy, but found no such association for those who had.…”