Occupational Exposure to Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: A recent Monographs Working Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a causal association between exposure to asbestos and ovarian cancer. We performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate this association.Data sources: Searches of PubMed and unpublished data yielded a total of 18 cohort studies of women occupationally exposed to asbestos.Data extraction: Two authors independently abstracted data; any disagreement was resolved by consulting a third reviewer.Data synthesis: All but one study reported standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) comparing observed numbers of deaths with expected numbers for the general population; the exception was a study that reported standardized incidence ratios. For simplicity, we refer to all effect estimates as SMRs. The overall pooled SMR estimate for ovarian cancer was 1.77 (95% confidence interval, 1.37–2.28), with a moderate degree of heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 35.3%, p = 0.061). Effect estimates were stronger for cohorts compensated for asbestosis, cohorts with estimated lung cancer SMRs > 2.0, and studies conducted in Europe compared with other geographic regions. Effect estimates were similar for studies with and without pathologic confirmation, and we found no evidence of publication bias (Egger’s test p-value = 0.162).Conclusions: Our study supports the IARC conclusion that exposure to asbestos is associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Naturally Occurring Asbestos: Potential for Human Exposure, Southern Nevada, USA

“…The definition of asbestiform for regulatory purposes generally sets limits on size (diameter <0.5 mm) and aspect ratio (>20:1), with additional morphological characteristics (Lowers and Meeker, 2002). It has long been known, however, that inhaling such minerals when they occur as long, thin fibers can cause disease, including those minerals that can be described as fibrous but fall outside the narrower definition of asbestiform (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2001;Camargo et al, 2011;Meeker, 2009;International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2012). Naturally occurring asbestos refers to asbestos found as a natural component of rocks and soils but may include fibrous minerals that do not meet the regulatory definition of asbestos (Harper, 2008).…”

Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Asbestos: Clarifying the Relationship by Epidemiology

“…The animal experimental studies and the epidemiology studies all point to asbestos fibers of all types as the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. Camargo et al [90] reviewed occupational exposure to asbestos and ovarian cancer and supported a causative association. They reiterated the diagnostic difficulty of differentiating ovarian cancer from peritoneal mesothelioma in females.…”

“…They reiterated the diagnostic difficulty of differentiating ovarian cancer from peritoneal mesothelioma in females. The Camargo et al [90] meta-analysis found asbestos causative for ovarian cancer. Since asbestos causes both peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, the epidemiology picture of causation is not as difficult as the differential diagnosis between these diseases in females.…”

Câncer relacionado ao trabalho: uma revisão sistemática

“…Trabalhadoras expostas ao asbesto e enfermeiras também mostraram um risco aumentado para câncer de ovário em alguns estudos [80][81][82] .…”