Journal of Ovarian Research May 15th: Tubal ligation, hysterectomy and ovarian cancer: A meta-analysis

 Blogger's Note: included in the study are references to hereditary ovarian cancer - BRCA's but not Lynch Syndrome
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Journal of Ovarian Research Tubal ligation, hysterectomy and ovarian cancer: A meta-analysis

Introduction
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in US women [1], yet primary prevention recommendations are limited. Gynecological surgeries including tubal ligation and hysterectomy may alter ovarian cancer risk by protecting the ovary from ascending carcinogens or damaging the utero-ovarian artery altering hormonal function. In addition, tubal ligation may increase immunity against the surface glycoprotein human mucin 1 (MUC1) [2-4]. While tubal ligation and hysterectomy generally have been found to be inversely associated with ovarian cancer, effect estimates vary between studies and little is
known about potential effect modifiers of these associations. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the association between ovarian cancer and tubal ligation as well as hysterectomy.

Results
......In secondary analyses, the association between tubal ligation and ovarian cancer risk was stronger for endometrioid tumors compared to serous tumors.

Conclusion

Observational epidemiologic evidence strongly supports that tubal ligation and hysterectomy are associated with a decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer, by approximately 26-30%. Additional research is needed to determine whether the association between tubal ligation and hysterectomy on ovarian cancer risk differs by individual, surgical, and tumor characteristics.

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