Can Estradiol and Ghrelin Play a Protective Role in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Incidence in Postmenopausal Women? Publisher Pubmed



Fooladi S¹ ; Akbari H^{2, 3} ; Abolhassani M^{1, 3} ; Sadeghi E^{4, 5} ; Fallah H³
Source: Archives of Medical Research Published:2021

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the association between estradiol, n-octanoylated, des-octanoylated, total ghrelin, and ghrelin/des-octanoylated ghrelin ratio levels along with pathological parameters and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) odds in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was carried out on 45 patients with EOC and 33 age-matched postmenopausal women as the control group. Plasma levels of estradiol, n-octanoylated, des-octanoylated, and total ghrelin were measured by ELISA method. Results: Estradiol's plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with EOC than in control women (p <0.001). Although the ratio levels of n-octanoylated, des-octanoylated, total ghrelin, and ghrelin/des-octanoylated ghrelin were not associated with EOC in logistic regression models, estradiol levels were significantly related to the increase in EOC odds (OR: 1.083, 95% CI: 1.037–1.13, p <0.001). However, estradiol levels in the two first quartiles (Q1, Q2) were associated with decreased odds of EOC (OR: 0.011, 95% CI: 0.001–0.118, p <0.001, and OR: 0.030, 95% CI: 0.003–0.284, p = 0.002, respectively). For those patients in the third quartile of plasma des-octanoylated and total ghrelin compared to those in the highest (Q4), the multivariate odds ratios of EOC were respectively 0.192 and 0.25. Conclusion: In conclusion, higher concentrations of des-octanoylated and total ghrelin might be associated with the decreased EOC odds. Furthermore, the findings suggest that high levels of estradiol might be a potential odds factor in EOC, however, lower estradiol levels may have a protective effect on EOC development. © 2020 IMSS