References & Sources  -  September 26, 1998

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Progestin enhances an anticancer process

A study of monkeys shows that the hormone progestin, found in birth control pills, can trigger a natural cell-death process that inhibits cancer.

 

References:

Rodriguez, G.C., et al. 1998. Effect of progestin on the ovarian epithelium of macaques: Cancer prevention through apoptosis? Journal of the Society of Gynecological Investigation 5(September/October):271.

 

Further Readings:

Bu, Shi-Zhong, et al. 1997. Progesterone induces apoptosis and up-regulation of p53 expression in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Cancer 79:1944.

Gross, T.P., and J.J. Schlesselman. 1994. The estimated effect of oral contraceptive use on the cumulative risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Obstetrics and Gynecology 83:419.

Fackelmann, K.A. 1992. Motherhood and cancer. Science News 142(Oct. 31):298.

Neven, P., and X. De Muylder. 1995. Hormonal interventions and cancer risk. Lancet 346(Dec. 23&30):S8.

Rosenberg, L., et al. 1994. A case-control study of oral contraceptive use and invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. American Journal of Epidemiology 139:654.

Seppa, N. 1997. Ovulation cycles linked to ovarian cancer. Science News 152(July 5):7.

 

Sources:

Gabriel Nuñez
University of Michigan Medical School
1500 East Medical Center Drive
4219 Cancer Center/Geriatric Center
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Gustavo C. Rodriguez
Duke University Medical Center
Department of OB/GYN
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
DUMC 3079
Durham, NC 27710

From Science News, Vol. 154, No. 13, September 26, p. 197.
Copyright Ó 1998 by Science Service.

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