An evaluation of the microbiota of the upper reproductive tract of women with and without epithelial ovarian cancer
In the quest for knowledge about the cause of ovarian cancer there is great interest in the role of inflammation and infection. Previously it has been supposed that the ovaries and tubes were sterile. It is now known that there is a normal bacterial population (microbiota) and the importance of this is becoming clear.
For this prospective study 25 women who were scheduled to have resection of the ovaries and tubes gave consent for microbiological examination of the specimens. Women were excluded from the study if they had received antibiotics or were known to have cervical or uterine cancer. Contamination was avoided.
Results from the study showed two women with previously undiagnosed ovarian cancer and the presence of bacteria in all specimens. Many different bacterial species were identified. Those women shown to have ovarian cancer had less diverse bacteria, raising the possibility of infection.
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