Hormone Replacement Therapy and Ovarian Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Purdie D M, Bain C J, Siskind V, Russell P, Hacker N F, Ward B G, Quinn M A, Green A C
Primary Institution: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, The University of Queensland
Hypothesis
Is oestrogen replacement therapy associated with an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer?
Conclusion
Unopposed oestrogen replacement therapy is linked to a higher risk of certain types of ovarian cancer, especially in women with an intact genital tract.
Supporting Evidence
- The study identified 793 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and 855 controls.
- Unopposed oestrogen replacement therapy was associated with an odds ratio of 2.56 for endometrioid or clear cell tumours.
- The risk was higher in women with an intact genital tract, with an odds ratio of 3.00.
Takeaway
This study found that taking oestrogen replacement therapy might make some women more likely to get a specific kind of ovarian cancer.
Methodology
A case-control study comparing 793 ovarian cancer cases with 855 female controls, using questionnaires to gather data on hormone therapy and reproductive history.
Participant Demographics
Women living in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, aged 1990 to 1993.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.32–4.94
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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