Elizabeth Smith, PhD
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Suppression of cyclooxygenase in prevention of menopausal gonadotropin-stimulated ovarian cancer risk
The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases rapidly in the peri- and post-menopausal periods, when ovulation ceases but the reproductive gonadotropin hormones are elevated. These gonadotropins can induce expression of certain enzymes which stimulate an inflammation-like condition that may cause changes in ovarian morphology and may promote cancer. To understand the relationship between menopause and ovarian cancer risk, these studies will investigate in the Wv mouse model, which mimics postmenopausal biology, the importance of ovulation and cyclooxygenase-1 enzyme expression on ovarian cancer development. We will also evaluate the potential to use pharmacological inhibitors of cyclooxygenases to reduce ovarian cancer risk.