Endometriosis Therapy Linked to Ovarian Cancer

A study has found that women taking danazol for treating endometriosis were nearly three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women taking leuprolide. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (PA, USA) was presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in Miami (FL, USA).

Danazol is a synthetic version of the male hormone androgen, while leuprolide is an anti-androgenic, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. The study pooled data from two case-control studies that examined the relationship among endometriosis, endometriosis treatments, and ovarian cancer in 32 women. According to the researchers, previous studies have found that women with endometriosis already have a 50% increased risk for ovarian cancer. Treating them with danazol appeared to further increase their risk. Women who took leuprolide had no significant risk elevation.

"While the number of women studied is small, the results are telling, and they warrant further studies on a larger scale,” said Carrie Cottreau, Ph.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Additional studies are planned.




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