Associations of Serum Isoflavone, Adiponectin and Insulin Levels with Risk for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results of a Case-control Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum isoflavones, adiponectin, and insulin levels with ovarian cancer risk. Materials and Methods: We gathered cases with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer at Sapporo Medical University Hospital from October 2010 to September 2012. Potential controls were recruited from female inpatients without any history of cancer or diabetes mellitus in different wards of the same hospital over the same period of time. Serum isoflavones, adiponectin, and insulin levels were measured in order to estimate associations with ovarian cancer risk in a case-control study. Data from 71 cases and 80 controls were analyzed with a logistic regression model adjusting for known risk factors. Results: A significant reduction in ovarian cancer risk was observed for the high tertile of serum daidzein level versus the low (P trend <0.001). A significant reduction in ovarian cancer risk was also observed for the high tertile of serum glycitein level versus the low (P trend =0.005). Furthermore, a significant reduction in ovarian cancer risk was observed for the high tertile of serum adiponectin level versus the low (P trend =0.004). Conversely, serum insulin level showed significantly elevated risk for ovarian cancer with the high tertile versus the low P trend <0.001). Conclusions: Decreased serum isoflavones levels, such as those for daidzein and glycitein, decreased serum adiponectin levels, and increased serum insulin levels could be shown to be associated with elevated risk of ovarian cancer.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Oligomenorrhea, and Risk of Ovarian Cancer Histotypes: Evidence from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

“…We observed that the increase in risk associated with irregular cycles was greatest among women with who were overweight or obese (BMI≥25). In addition to elevated androgen levels women who have irregular cycles and are additionally overweight or obese are more likely to suffer other metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, and limited cross-sectional evidence suggests that elevated insulin levels may be associated with ovarian cancer risk (32,33).…”

The Emerging Role of Adiponectin in Female Malignancies

“…Many epidemiological studies addressed obesity as an important risk factor for ovarian cancer even though the mechanisms involved in the tumorigenesis have not been fully clarified [96,97,98,99,100]. Aberrant production of hormonal factors, adipokines and cytokines, and adipose related inflammatory reactions associated with obesity may affect ovarian cancer development [101,102,103,104,105]. Interestingly, several studies linked low plasma levels of adiponectin with ovarian tumorigenesis [105,106,107].…”

“…Aberrant production of hormonal factors, adipokines and cytokines, and adipose related inflammatory reactions associated with obesity may affect ovarian cancer development [101,102,103,104,105]. Interestingly, several studies linked low plasma levels of adiponectin with ovarian tumorigenesis [105,106,107]. A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis provided evidences that, in a large cohort of women affected by ovarian cancer, high leptin/adiponectin ratio correlated with a poor outcome [108].…”

Obesity and cancer: the role of adipose tissue and adipo-cytokines-induced chronic inflammation

“…In several studies has been observed a negative correlation between circulating adiponectin levels and the risk of developing certain types of cancer such as colorectal, breast, pancreatic, liver and prostate cancer 93-96. Low adiponectin levels are potentially associated with carcinogenesis 97-99. The adiponectin protective effects in tumors also include the inhibition of leptin proliferative signaling and inducing cell apoptosis 100-101.…”