Ovulation, p53 Mutations, and Ovarian Cancer--a Causal Link?

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Abstract
Epidemiologic evidence suggests that the more a woman ovulates, the greater her risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. For example, pregnancy and oral contraceptive use, both suppressors of ovulation, appear to protect against the disease. To account for the evidence, Fathalla ( 1 ) hypothesized that cancers arise as a result of some concomitant of ovulation, such as increased cellular proliferation following rupture of the epithelium at release of the follicle.