Study suggests genetic link between ovarian cancer and endometriosis
CTV
A recent study suggests evidence of a genetic link between endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conducted a large-scale analysis that that looked at the genomes of 15,000 women with endometriosis and 25,000 with ovarian cancer to determine if there was any overlap in risk factors between the two diseases. They published their findings in the journal Cell Reports Medicine on March 15.
The researchers identified 28 distinct genetic markers that contributed to the risk of both endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
“Our research shows that individuals carrying certain genetic markers that predispose them to having endometriosis also have a higher risk of certain epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes, namely clear cell and endometrioid ovarian cancer,” lead author Dr. Sally Mortlock said in a news release on March 16.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects around one in nine women of reproductive age. It causes tissue similar to uterine lining to develop outside of the uterus and can cause pain and infertility.
