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Physical Activity as a Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer

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Focus on Gynecologic Malignancies

Part of the book series: Energy Balance and Cancer ((EBAC,volume 13))

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a highly fatal gynecologic malignancy that is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Most known risk factors are not easily modifiable, necessitating examination of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and sedentary behavior, with risk. While putative biologic mechanisms of action, such as reduced adiposity, sex hormones, and inflammation, suggest that physical activity should lower ovarian cancer risk, results from epidemiologic studies have been less clear. In general, case-control studies have shown an inverse association, however potential recall bias and reverse causation may play a role in this relationship. Conversely, prospective studies generally have observed either a positive association or null results. This may be due to influences of moderate to vigorous activity on increasing ovulatory function compared to physical inactivity. Little research is available regarding associations with survival or the role of sedentary behavior. Clearly, additional research in cohort-based consortia with harmonized physical activity data is needed to further understand the complex role of physical activity with ovarian cancer risk and survival, overall and by tumor subtype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Tianyi Huang

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard University, 181 Longwood Ave., 3rd Floor, Channing Laboratory, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Shelley S. Tworoger

Authors
  1. Tianyi Huang
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  2. Shelley S. Tworoger
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Correspondence to Shelley S. Tworoger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Science, Health and Society, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Nathan A. Berger

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Ann H. Klopp

  3. Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Karen H. Lu

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Huang, T., Tworoger, S.S. (2018). Physical Activity as a Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer. In: Berger, N., Klopp, A., Lu, K. (eds) Focus on Gynecologic Malignancies. Energy Balance and Cancer, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63483-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63483-8_13

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