abstract: Attitudes to reproductive genetic testing in women who had a positive BRCA test before having children: a qualitative analysis

"Awareness of reproductive testing options was very variable among the cohort. The findings highlight the complexities of reproductive decision making for young women who knowingly carry a BRCA mutation, and the dilemmas inherent to reproductive genetic testing when the condition being tested for also affects a prospective parent."

full free access: Evidence for the Complexity of MicroRNA-Mediated Regulation in Ovarian Cancer: A Systems Approach (technical/in research)

"Our findings underscore the complexities of miRNA-mediated regulation in vivo and the necessity of understanding the basis of these complexities in cancer cells before the therapeutic potential of miRNAs can be fully realized."

full free access: Survival of patients with ovarian cancer in central and northern Denmark, 1998–2009

Objective

To examine time trends of survival and mortality of ovarian cancer in the central and northern Denmark regions during the period 1998–2009.

Conclusion

The survival of ovarian cancer patients did not improve during the study period. This lack of improvement contrasts with the national cancer strategies implemented during this last decade, focusing on improving the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

full free access: Hormonal Contraception—What Kind, When, and for Whom?

Continuing Medical Education

Abstract

Method

Selective review of the literature.

Results

COCs suppress gonadotropin secretion and thereby inhibit follicular maturation and ovulation. Their correct use is associated with 0.3 pregnancies per 100 women per year, their typical use, with 1 pregnancy per 100 women per year (Pearl index). COCs have effects on the cardiovascular and hemostatic systems as well as on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. When given in the presence of specific risk factors, they significantly increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and thromboembolism. Women with persistent human papilloma virus (HPV) infection who take COCs are at increased risk of developing invasive cervical cancer. On the other hand, COCs lower the cumulative incidence of endometrial and ovarian cancer by 30% to 50%, and that of colorectal cancer by 20% to 30%. Other malignancies seem to be unaffected by COC use.

Conclusion

As long as personal and familial risk factors are carefully considered, COCs constitute a safe, reversible, and well-tolerated method of contraception.

MicroRNA Processing and Binding Site Polymorphisms Are Not Replicated in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in microRNA-related genes have been associated with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk in two reports, yet associated alleles may be inconsistent across studies.

Results: After adjustment for European ancestry, no overall association was observed between any of the analyzed SNPs and EOC risk.

Conclusions: Common variants in these evaluated genes do not seem to be strongly associated with EOC risk.

Impact: This analysis suggests earlier associations between EOC risk and SNPs in these genes may have been chance findings, possibly confounded by population admixture. To more adequately evaluate the relationship between genetic variants and cancer risk, large sample sizes are needed, adjustment for population stratification should be carried out, and use of imputed SNP data should be considered

Combination of two drugs (carboplatin/decitabine) 'can treat ovarian cancer' | International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Decitabine (duh-sye-tuh-bean)

Trade/other name(s): Dacogen


"...Experts from Indiana University (IU) noted that carboplatin and decitabine, when combined, has a positive effect on the majority of late-stage ovarian cancer patients, even if they had previously developed a resistance to carbolplatin....Further studies will now be conducted to determine whether the drug combination can be rolled out on a wide scale."