Progesterone Plays Role in Ovarian Cancer Risk
Reported January 10, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) —
A new genetic discovery could help give insight into a very deadly disease. The research shows two variations in the gene that codes for the progesterone receptor increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer.
The study was initially set up to look at the progesterone receptor gene. The PGR had previously been linked to a higher ovarian cancer risk as well as a lower breast cancer risk in women who carry it. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles used biological samples from an ongoing study. The scientists examined the variety of gene variations found in the PGR gene to see if there was an association with the risk for ovarian cancer in women.
While scientists say the PGR likely does play a role in the risk of ovarian cancer, they discovered something even more interesting. They found the greatest influence on ovarian cancer risk came from two variations of the gene. These two variations raised a woman’s ovarian cancer risk by nearly four-fold.
Study authors say they know progesterone appears to protect women from ovarian cancer, while increasing their risk of breast cancer. It seems changes in the progesterone receptor, which is what the progesterone hormone does, might decrease the receptor’s efficiency, reducing the influence on the body’s cell. This can lead to ovarian cancer. However, future studies are needed to confirm this theory.
“If our findings with respect to ovarian cancer are replicated in other studies, this would provide important evidence that direct modulation of progesterone signaling influences cancer risk,” write the study authors. “Understanding how this variation influences risk of ovarian cancer should give further insight into ways this difficult-to-diagnose disease could be prevented in the future.”
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2005;97:51-59
