Ovarian cancer and the microbiome: a complex relationship
Ecological causes for cancer and other diseases are big news. Discoveries of peptic ulceration following bacterial infection (H. pylori) and the possible elimination of cervical cancer by immunization against papilloma virus were groundbreaking. Maybe ovarian cancer will be next?
Bacterial colonization of the body is known as the biome. Normally the biome of the vagina is very stable with predominance of lactobacillus species (usually L. crispatus). Previous studies have shown that when the bacterial population is changed, premature labour is more likely.
Cervical smear samples from young women with BRCA mutation are less likely to show a stable lactobacillus biome. Current research is looking at the biome as a marker for increased ovarian cancer risk, and also to determine whether infection of the fallopian tube may be a stimulus for pre-cancerous change.
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