Could epithelial ovarian cancer be associated with chlamydial infection?
OBJECTIVE
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancy in the UK. The pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood. Our hypothesis was that chlamydial infection might play a role in the pathogenesis of EOC.


METHODS
122 serum samples of patients undergoing surgery for benign or malignant gynaecological conditions were analysed. There was a total of 41 patients with EOC (33.6%), 27 with benign cystadenomas (22.1%) and 54 with normal ovaries (44.3%).


RESULTS
There was a higher incidence of IgA seropositivity and lower incidence of IgG seropositivity in the EOC group compared with the other groups; however, this was not statistically significant. There was no statistical difference in the serum IgM antibodies to chlamydia in the three different groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although chronic infection and persistent inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of EOC, and chlamydia is a common genital tract pathogen, our study did not find an association between chlamydia and EOC.
Wong
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Hampstead Campus, London.
Maclean
A B
AB
Furrows
S J
SJ
Ridgway
G L
GL
Hardiman
P J
PJ
Perrett
C W
CW
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M