OCRF-funded research project
FACTORS PREDICTING OVARIAN CANCER
Institution: Curtin University
Lead Researcher: Dr Louise Stewart
Funding Awarded: $31,586
Year/s: 2016-2017
Project Description:
In this project, Dr Stewart sought to identify any associations between unilateral salpingectomy, oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy (without hysterectomy) and the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Secondly the team aimed to document the risk of ovarian cancer and any associations with factors including: parity, age at first birth, plurality or whether there has been birth to twins etc, socio-economic status, remoteness of residence and other demographic and behavioural characteristics, medical diagnoses including fertility, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, other cancer diagnoses. The team investigated interactions between risks and protective factors associates with various subtypes of ovarian cancer.
Expected/Achieved Outcomes:
Knowledge Building:In a published study, the team found that there was an increased rate of serous borderline tumour (SBT) associated with infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. A diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease was also associated with an increased rate of low-grade serous ovarian cancer. The findings supported hypothesis that inflammatory processes within the upper gynaecological tract and peritoneum may lead to a predisposition to developing low grade serous ovarian cancer or SBT. In a previous study the team also found association between pelvic inflammatory disease and development of high-grade serous carcinoma.
Project Status:
OCRF funding for this project has ceased but the team continue to further investigate risks associated with the development of ovarian cancer subtypes.
Further Details and Publications:
Medical Journal
Read more about published findings from this project.
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