Fertility drugs, reproductive strategies and ovarian cancer risk.
Several adverse effects have been related to infertility treatments, such as cancer development. In particular, the relationship between infertility, reproductive strategies, and risk of gynecological cancers has aroused much interest in recent years. The evaluation of cancer risk among women treated for infertility is very complex, mainly because of many factors that can contribute to occurrence of cancer in these patients (including parity status). This article addresses the possible association between the use of fertility treatments and the risk of ovarian cancer, through a scrupulous search of the literature published thus far in this field. Our principal objective was to give more conclusive answers on the question whether the use of fertility drug significantly increases ovarian cancer risk. Our analysis focused on the different types of drugs and different treatment schedules used. This study provides additional insights regarding the long-term relationships between fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer.
Department of Gynaecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza" Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Federica
F
Tomao
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Lo Russo
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Gian Paolo
GP
Spinelli
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Valeria
V
Stati
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Alessandra Anna
AA
Prete
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Natalie
N
Prinzi
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Marsela
M
Sinjari
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute of Rome, Italy, Rome.
Patrizia
P
Vici
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Anselmo
A
Papa
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Maria Stefania
MS
Chiotti
Department of Gynaecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza" Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Pierluigi
P
Benedetti Panici
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy.
Silverio
S
Tomao
D002996:Clomiphene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012307:Risk Factors
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene
Clomiphene citrate; Fertility drugs; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian stimulation; in vitro fertilization