2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Combination-type oral contraceptives (COCs) have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (IEOC); this protective effect may be achieved to a large extent through COCs ability to reduce cell proliferation in the fallopian tube fimbriae (FTF). The progestin-releasing Mirena® intra-uterine device (IUD) is an increasingly popular method of contraception, but it is not known if its use will reduce a woman's risk of IEOC. Mirena® use does not block ovulation in most women but it may release sufficient progestin to also reduce cell proliferation in the FTF. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the Mirena® IUD on cell proliferation in the FTF as a possible biomarker of protection against IEOC.
Use of oral contraceptives (OCs) reduces a woman's risk of ovarian cancer very significantly and the protective effect continues for at least 25 years after use of OCs is stopped; the mechanisms of how this occurs are not understood. We are proposing here to directly study the effect of OCs on the fallopian tube and inclusion cysts within the ovary - sites from which most ovarian cancers are thought to arise - in order to better understand the mechanistic basis for OC protection against ovarian cancer. We think the protection results from reduced cell proliferation. It will lay the foundation for further studies to ensure that the protection against ovarian cancer afforded by 'traditional' OCs is not lost with alterations in OC formulation, and, if possible, to guide development of OC formations to improve further on the protection afforded by OCs.