Back to Search
Start Over
Male origin microchimerism and ovarian cancer
- Source :
- Hallum, S, Jakobsen, M A, Gerds, T A, Pinborg, A, Tjønneland, A & Kamper-Jørgensen, M 2021, ' Male origin microchimerism and ovarian cancer ', International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 87-94 . https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa019
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2020.
-
Abstract
- Background Reduced risk of ovarian cancer is commonly ascribed to reduced exposure to endogenous hormones during pregnancy, using oral contraceptives or not using hormone replacement therapy. However, exposure to hormones alone account for less than half of all cases. Many women carry small amounts of male cells—known as male origin microchimerism—in their circulation and remarkable impacts of these cells on women’s health are being published. Here, we pursue the possibility that male origin microchimerism has a role in reducing ovarian cancer risk. Methods We conducted a prospective case-cohort study using blood samples and questionnaire data from 700 women participating in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort. Blood samples were analysed for Y chromosome presence as a marker of male microchimerism. We evaluated the association between male microchimerism and ovarian cancer, using weighted Cox regression models reporting hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Male microchimerism was detected in 46% of cases and 65.9% of controls. Women testing positive for male microchimerism had a reduced hazard rate of ovarian cancer compared with women testing negative (HR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29-0.68). We found no evidence of interaction with measures of hormonal exposures (P = 0.50). Conclusions For the first time we report that women who test positive for male microchimerism in their circulation have reduced rates of ovarian cancer compared with women who test negative. Although the underlying mechanisms are presently unknown, we believe male microchimerism is potent in preventing ovarian cancer.
- Subjects :
- Male
Epidemiology
medicine.medical_treatment
Physiology
Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
Chimerism
Cohort Studies
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
medicine
Humans
Prospective Studies
030212 general & internal medicine
Ovarian Neoplasms
Proportional hazards model
business.industry
Hazard ratio
Cancer
Microchimerism
Hormone replacement therapy (menopause)
General Medicine
medicine.disease
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Cohort
Female
business
Ovarian cancer
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14643685 and 03005771
- Volume :
- 50
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Epidemiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9373fdb33761db8261a894c5353655c4