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1: Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Nov 1;9(14):5142-4.Click here to read Links

Endometriosis and its treatment with danazol or lupron in relation to ovarian cancer.

Cottreau CM, Ness RB, Modugno F, Allen GO, Goodman MT.

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.

PURPOSE: It has been hypothesized that circulating androgens may be involved in the development of ovarian cancer. The androgenic medication, danazol, and the antiandrogenic medications, leuprolide and nafarelin, are commonly used in the treatment of endometriosis. We assessed the associations between the use of these medications and ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We pooled information on self-reported use of danazol and leuprolide/nafarelin from two population-based case-control studies of incident ovarian cancer, comprising 1373 cases and 1980 controls. Odds ratios for the association between danazol and ovarian cancer, and leuprolide/nafarelin and ovarian cancer were adjusted for age, parity, oral contraceptive use, and family history of ovarian cancer. These analyses were repeated among the 120 cases and 124 controls who reported having had endometriosis. RESULTS: Danazol users (n = 19) were at a significantly elevated 3.2 fold (95% confidence interval, 1.2-8.5) risk of developing ovarian cancer, whereas leuprolide/nafarelin users (n = 23) were not at significantly elevated risk (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-2.4). Similar results were obtained among the subset of women with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Danazol, but not leuprolide/nafarelin, increased the risk of ovarian cancer. This supports the hypothesis that androgen excess may be associated with the development of ovarian cancer.

PMID: 14613992 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Estrogen (Cenestin® , Enjuvia® , Estrace® , ...)

    Estrogen is used to treat hot flushes ('hot flashes'; sudden strong feelings of heat and sweating) in women who are experiencing menopause ('change of life', the end of monthly menstrual periods). Some brands of estrogen...

  • Danazol (Danocrine® )

    Danazol is used to treat endometriosis, a disease that causes infertility, pain before and during menstrual periods, pain during and after sexual activity, and heavy or irregular bleeding. Danazol is also used in fibrocy...

  • Leuprolide (Eligard® , Lupron® , Lupron Depot® , ...)

    Your doctor has ordered the drug leuprolide to help treat your illness. Leuprolide comes as a solution (Lupron) that is injected subcutaneously (just under the skin) and is usually given once daily. Leuprolide also comes...

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