EFA Medical Conference 2017: “Literature Review, Our Data, and Case Presentations” by Dr. Karli Goldstein

Dr. Goldstein talked about the possible relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer.

Key Points

Highlights:

• Dr. Goldstein presented data on the possible relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer.

Importance:

• Although there is conflicting data about the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer, association studies can help scientists better understand the potential link between these two diseases and develop new and better screening and treatment strategies in the future.

Key Points:

• Some studies show a positive correlation between endometriosis and breast cancer, while some others show no correlation or a negative correlation between these two diseases.

• A family history of breast cancer may or may not be linked to endometriosis.

• There may be a correlation between deep infiltrating endometriosis and a positive family history of breast cancer.

• There may be a positive association between endometriosis patients who have painful periods and pain during intercourse and a family history of breast cancer.

Lay Summary

Dr. Karli Goldstein started her presentation with a brief literature review on the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer. She focused on a research article by Dr. Spandidos and colleagues, which was the first epidemiological study that examined the possible relationship between these two diseases.

The results of the study showed that out of multiple studies that were identified by using the search words “endometriosis”, “breast cancer”, and “malignant neoplasm”, 11 showed a substantial evidence of a positive correlation between endometriosis and breast cancer, while eight showed no association or an inverse relationship between these two diseases. 

The positive association studies showed up to three-fold increase in the risk of breast cancer in women who had endometriosis.

The negative-association studies were smaller and mostly relied on self-reported cases of endometriosis without a confirmed surgical-pathological diagnosis. Also, these studies did not take hormone status or hormone treatment into consideration, and therefore Spandidos and colleagues concluded that they could not be used as a definitive proof about the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer.

Dr. Goldstein then presented findings on the effect of a woman’s family history of breast cancer, and type of endometriosis on the relationship between these two diseases.

According to a research study conducted by researchers at the University of Yale, in women with endometriosis there was a 26.7 percent family history of breast cancer, and in patients without endometriosis, there was only 5 percent, Dr. Goldstein said. However, data analysis from Lenox Hill Hospital showed that while 35 percent of endometriosis patients had a positive family history of breast cancer, 65 percent had a negative family history. 

The data from Lenox Hill Hospital also showed that there was a correlation between deep infiltrating endometriosis and a positive family history of breast cancer. 

Finally, there was a positive association between endometriosis patients who had painful periods and pain during intercourse and a family history of breast cancer.

Dr. Goldstein concluded her presentation with five case studies from Lenox Hill Hospital with the aim to initiate potential collaborations between researchers and clinicians to decide on the best course of action for these patients. All cases had both endometriosis and breast cancer.