It’s not just your genotype

Exploring causal relationships between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and ovarian cancer risk: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization

https://tinyurl.com/yhfkpwyb

One of the perplexing aspects of ovarian cancer is why there is individual variation between those who do have cancer and those who don’t. It would be expected that women with high risk due to genetic mutation such as BRCA2 would all eventually succumb to breast or ovarian cancer. However, many (about 20%), do not. This study suggests that brain structure and function may be part of the reason this is so.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is able in a non-invasive way to identify different brain shapes and anatomy. Using data from the UK Biobank study it has been possible to identify 12 distinct varieties of brain anatomy which have an influence on ovarian cancer. Further investigation suggested distinct areas of brain cortex variation, with the right medial cortex being protective, and the right pre-central gyrus being harmful.

Why this is so remains unclear, different areas of the brain have various immunological and psychological effects. Ovarian cancer is more likely for women with immune compromise or depression. There is uncertainty as to whether these changes represent cause or effect, but the findings suggest new variables in cancer study.