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Prolactin and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

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Higher prolactin levels show a trend toward increased ovarian cancer risk, particularly in women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or greater. This finding supports previous research in settings with high adiposity.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Prolactin, synthesized in the ovaries, is implicated in ovarian cancer etiology.
  • A prior study suggested a positive association between prolactin levels and ovarian cancer risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prolactin levels and ovarian cancer risk.
  • To examine potential heterogeneity in this association based on menopausal status, BMI, age, and histotype.

Main Methods:

  • A pooled case-control study involving 703 cases and 864 matched controls from five prospective cohorts.
  • Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
  • Stratified analyses were performed based on menopausal status, BMI, age, and histotype.

Main Results:

  • A positive trend was observed between prolactin levels and ovarian cancer risk overall (Ptrend = 0.045).
  • The association was significant for women with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (OR = 2.68; 95% CI = 1.56-4.59; Ptrend < 0.01).
  • No significant associations were found for premenopausal or postmenopausal women individually, nor for women with BMI < 25 kg/m².

Conclusions:

  • Higher prolactin levels are associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly in women with higher BMI.
  • These findings support previous research and highlight the role of prolactin in ovarian carcinogenesis within high adiposity contexts.