Endogenous androgens and risk of epithelial invasive ovarian cancer by tumor characteristics in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Issue 2 (16th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ose, Jennifer; Fortner, Renée T.; Rinaldi, Sabina; Schock, Helena; Overvad, Kim; Tjonneland, Anne; Hansen, Louise; Dossus, Laure; Fournier, Agnes; Baglietto, Laura; Romieu, Isabelle; Kuhn, Elisabetta; Boeing, Heiner; Trichopoulou, Antonia; Lagiou, Pagona; Trichopoulos, Dimitrios; Palli, Domenico; Masala, Giovanna; Sieri, Sabina; Tumino, Rosario; Sacerdote, Carlotta; Mattiello, Amalia; Ramon Quiros, Jose; Obón‐Santacana, Mireia; Larrañaga, Nerea; Chirlaque, María‐Dolores; Sánchez, María‐José; Barricarte, Aurelio; Peeters, Petra H.; Bueno‐de‐Mesquita, H. B(as); Onland‐Moret, N. Charlotte; Brändstedt, Jenny; Lundin, Eva; Idahl, Annika; Weiderpass, Elisabete; Gram, Inger T.; Lund, Eiliv; Kaw, Kay‐Tee; Travis, Ruth C.; Merritt, Melissa A.; Gunther, Marc J.; Riboli, Elio; Kaaks, Rudolf;
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 136:Issue 2(2015:Jan. 15)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 410
• Publication Date: 2014-06-16
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The role of endogenous androgens and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) in ovarian carcinogenesis is poorly understood. Epithelial invasive ovarian cancer (EOC) is a heterogeneous disease and there are no prospective data on endogenous androgens and EOC risk by tumor characteristics (histology, grade, stage) or the dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis (<italic>i.e</italic>. type I <italic>vs</italic>. type II, leading to less or more aggressive tumors). We conducted a nested case–control study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort evaluating androgens and SHBG and invasive EOC risk by tumor characteristics. Female participants who provided a blood sample and were not using exogenous hormones at blood donation were eligible (<italic>n =</italic> 183, 257). A total of 565 eligible women developed EOC; two controls (<italic>n =</italic> 1, 097) were matched per case. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression models. We observed no association between androgens, SHBG and EOC overall. A doubling of androstenedione reduced risk of serous carcinomas by 21% (odds ratio (OR)log2 = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.64–0.97]). Moreover, associations differed for low‐grade and high‐grade carcinomas, with positive associations for low‐grade and inverse associations for high‐grade carcinomas (<italic>e.g</italic>. androstenedione: low grade: OR<sub>log2</sub> = 1.99 [0.98–4.06]; high grade: OR<sub>log2</sub> = 0.75 [0.61–0.93], <italic>p</italic><sub>het</sub> ≤ 0.01), similar associations were observed for type I/II tumors. This is the first prospective study to evaluate androgens, SHBG and EOC risk by tumor characteristics and type I/II status. Our findings support a possible role of androgens in ovarian carcinogenesis. Additional studies exploring this association are needed.</p> </abstract>