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Epidemiologic Relationship Between Obesity and 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 the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown a positive association between obesity and ovarian cancer, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and World Cancer Research Fund recently concluded that body fatness (marked by body mass index) is a probable risk factor for ovarian cancer. The positive relation of body fatness to ovarian cancer appears to be more evident among non-users of hormone therapy. Furthermore, compared to normal weight, obesity is associated with poorer ovarian cancer survival. Possible biological mechanisms linking obesity with ovarian cancer risk and progression include insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia, increased levels of circulating growth factors, chronic inflammation, and altered levels of sex hormones. Thus, obesity, as a modifiable risk factor, should be targeted for preventing ovarian cancer and for improving ovarian cancer survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany

    Carmen Jochem, Inga Schlecht & Michael Leitzmann

Authors
  1. Carmen Jochem
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  2. Inga Schlecht
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  3. Michael Leitzmann
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Correspondence to Michael Leitzmann .

Editor information

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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Jochem, C., Schlecht, I., Leitzmann, M. (2018). Epidemiologic Relationship Between Obesity and 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_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63483-8_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63482-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63483-8

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