A recent study has found that genes responsible for causing endometriosis also increase the risk of ovarian cancer in individuals.
Although an extremely debilitating condition, endometriosis continues to receive an inadequate amount of attention and funding. A woman may spend an average of seven years dealing with the excruciating symptoms before receiving an accurate diagnosis. This is largely due to doctors dismissing women’s experiences as regular menstrual symptoms. Thus, causing women to suffer from severe pelvic pain and infertility issues. Moreover, women with endometriosis also have a slightly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Endometriosis affects as many women as diabetes and asthma yet it has not received the same level of attention or funding, leaving women to suffer in silence.
Dr. Sally Mortlock, lead author
Now, a team of researchers at the University of Queensland have identified genetic factors responsible for the higher risk of ovarian cancer in women with endometriosis. Therefore, providing scientists with possible drug targets and an increased understanding of the two diseases. The results of the study are available in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.
Twice The Risk
The genetic study looked at the genomes of 25,000 ovarian cancer sufferers and 15,000 women with endometriosis. Using Mendelian randomization analyses, the researchers estimated the genetic correlation between endometriosis and different ovarian cancer subtypes – clear cell, endometrioid, and high-grade serous.
Their search identified 28 genetic markers linked to both diseases, including 19 with a shared association signal. The results revealed a 2.6 times higher risk of ovarian cancer for women carrying genetic risk factors for endometriosis. However, a very weak link was present for high-grade serious 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.
Dr. Sally Mortlock, lead author
According to lead author, Dr. Sally Mortlock, 1 in 76 women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer. Endometriosis increases the risk only slightly to 1 in 55. Thus, the overall risk remains low. Nevertheless, identification of these genes will provide researchers with targets for future drugs. And understand the pathways responsible for the development of both diseases.
Reference:
Mortlock, Sally, et al. “A Multi-Level Investigation of the Genetic Relationship between Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer Histotypes.” Cell Reports Medicine, vol. 3, no. 3, 2022, p. 100542., doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100542.
