October 27, 2011

expert reaction to research into how ovarian stimulation increases risk of borderline ovarian tumours as published in Human Reproduction

Research from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam suggested a link between IVF treatment and the occurrence of borderline ovarian tumours (but not invasive ovarian cancer).

Prof Hani Gabra, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, said:

“Reassuringly, and in keeping with lots of previous research in this area, this study shows that the risks of invasive ovarian cancer are small in populations of patients receiving ovarian stimulation for IVF. Although this study shows that ovarian stimulation may increase the risk of much less aggressive borderline ovarian tumours, it underlines the fact that ovarian stimulation for IVF is not a major risk factor for invasive ovarian cancer.”

Prof Peter Braude, Emeritus Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kings College London, said:

“This is an important and worthwhile long term study which goes some way to answering the questions that so many IVF patients ask. However the results should be kept in proportion as the increase shown was from around 5 in a thousand to 7 per thousand women. This needs to be balanced against the intention of the treatment; for those infertile to conceive a child. The study should be continued and extended to those women who do conceive whose risk may be different from those who do not as has been shown in previous studies.”

Mr Richard Kennedy, General Secretary of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), said:

“Over the last decade, several reports have considered the long term risks of ovarian stimulation practised as part of the IVF process. These reports have been generally reassuring in terms of risk of ovarian cancer. This new research has highlighted the presence of an increased risk of borderline tumours in a national cohort and has once again posed a question about the long term risks of ovarian stimulation further confounded by the known underlying risks for these patients. The IFFS remains of the view that the long term risks are low but calls for continued vigilance through reporting of long term outcomes with international collaboration.”

‘Risk of borderline and invasive ovarian tumours after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization in a large Dutch cohort’, by FE van Leeuwen et al, published in Human Reproduction on Thursday 27 October 2011.