Background:A role for inflammation, and consequently ofnon-steroideal anti-inflammatory drugs, in ovarian carcinogenesis has beenproposed, but epidemiological evidence is scanty.
Patients and methods:Data were derived from a hospital-basedcase-control study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1999. Cases were 749women, aged 18–80 years (median age 56 years), with incident,histologically confirmed ovarian cancer. Controls were 898 non-hysterectomizedwomen, aged 17–80 years (median age 58 years), admitted to hospital foracute conditions, unrelated to risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Results:The multivariate odds ratio (OR) was 0.93 (95%confidence interval (95% CI): 0.53–1.62) for regular aspirin usefor more than six months, 1.38 (95% CI: 0.57–3.36) for currentuse and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.35–1.47) for former use. The OR was notsignificantly different from unity for duration of use, age at starting use,indication (analgesia or cardiovascular prevention), and in women aged <60and ≥60 years at ovarian cancer diagnosis.
Conclusions:This study provides little support for the hypothesisthat aspirin may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.