Endometriosis as a model for inflammation–hormone interactions in ovarian and breast cancers

Ness RB, Roberta B. Ness, Francesmary Modugno, Modugno F
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) · 2006 · vol. 42(6) , pp. 691–703 · doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2006.01.009 · PMID:16531042 · W2031966683
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This paper proposes endometriosis as a model to study how inflammation and hormone interactions contribute to the development of ovarian and breast cancers.

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Abstract

Chronic inflammation has been implicated in a variety of cancers. In this review, we consider associations between endometriosis and cancers both local (ovarian) and distant (breast). We review the epidemiological data linking endometriosis to ovarian and breast cancers. We then consider evidence for a role for sex steroid hormones and for inflammation in the aetiology of each of these cancers. Finally, we consider that endometriosis may promote alterations in sex steroid hormones and inflammatory mediators. A possible explanation for the association between endometriosis and these reproductive cancers may then be local and systemic enhancement of aberrant inflammatory and hormonal mediators. If this hypothesis is true, endometriosis may need to be considered as a risk factor for ovarian and breast cancers, triggering increasingly intensive surveillance. Moreover, treatments for endometriosis may require consideration of the impact on long-term cancer risk.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Breast Neoplasms Endometriosis Hormones Inflammation Ovarian Neoplasms Breast Neoplasms Breast Neoplasms Breast Neoplasms Cytokines Cytokines Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Hormones Humans Inflammation Inflammation Inflammation Ovarian Neoplasms

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (31)

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europepmc
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK