International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A new study into gynaecological cancers has made a discovery about patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Conducted by Dr Elizabeth Swisher, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington in Seattle in the US, research found more women with this problem carry cancer-predisposing mutations than previously thought.

Furthermore, it was discovered these mutations occur in a greater number of genes than anticipated in the past, as they were found in 12 genes for inherited gynaecological cancers.

Dr Swisher stated that relying on family history can mean more than one-third of ovarian cancers in females with a predisposition to the disease are missed.

It is thought her research methods could also be used to perform more effective patient testing in the future.

Dr Swisher stated that "current methods of detection are not effective".

This comes after scientists at the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health found women who are exposed to diethylstilbestrol while in utero are more likely to suffer from reproductive problems and cancer.

Posted by Martine Ward