Ovarian cancer causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Huda A. Karman, M.D.

Overview

Ovarian cancer etiology is not completely understood but there are multiple risk factors that can play a role in its occurrence. The theories of the etiology of ovarian cancer suggest that repeated ovulation injures the ovarian epithelium and eventually leads to ovarian cancer development. The other theories discuss the origin of ovarian cancer that can be cortical inclusion cysts that become neoplastic or metaplastic or dysplastic changes of the fallopian tube. Direct effect of persistent Gonadotrophin release from the pituitary gland on the ovary also believed to play a role in ovarian cancer etiology.

Causes

Ovarian cancer etiology is not completely understood but there are multiple risk factors that can play a role in its occurrence such as:
- Follicle stimulation or fertility drugs as Clomiphene^[1]
Based on multiple studies, the following are theories of the etiology of ovarian cancer:
- Theory 1:
  - Repeated ovulations lead to injury of the ovarian epithelium and subsequent exposure to the inflammatory cytokine, transformation of the mesenchymal epithelium, alteration of the genes and hence cancer.
  - With increased age, cortical inclusion cysts develop and its ovarian surface epithelium become metaplastic or neoplastic under the effect of accumulated inflammatory cytokines or stromal factors stimulation ^[2]
- Theory 2:
  - Ovarian cancer originates from the fallopian tube. This theory evidenced by the presence of dysplastic changes in the fallopian tubes of women who underwent prophylactic removal of their ovaries.
- Theory 3:
  - Persistent Gonadotrophin release from the pituitary gland has a direct effect on the ovarian epithelium and is considered carcinogenic ^[3]

References

↑ Spirtas, Robert; Kaufman, Steven C.; Alexander, Nancy J. (1993). “Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer: red alert or red herring?”. Fertility and Sterility. 59 (2): 291–293. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(16)55670-2. ISSN 0015-0282.
↑ Ottevanger, Petronella Beatrix (2017). “Ovarian cancer stem cells more questions than answers”. Seminars in Cancer Biology. 44: 67–71. doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.04.009. ISSN 1044-579X.
↑ Fishel S, Jackson P (1989). “Follicular stimulation for high tech pregnancies: are we playing it safe?”. BMJ. 299 (6694): 309–11. doi:10.1136/bmj.299.6694.309. PMC 1837149. PMID 2535637.

Overview