Asbestos Exposure and Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph conducted a systematic review of the relationship between asbestos and ovarian cancer. However, there may have been information bias due to the undue weight given to few articles. To address this limitation, the present study performed a meta-analysis integrating studies published both before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos, with the aim of investigating the association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive search of major journal databases was conducted to identify studies examining the relationship between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer, including those featured in the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos. A meta-analysis on asbestos exposure and cancer risk was performed.

Results: The meta-analysis of studies published after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos found a summary Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.03-4.05; p = 0.0123; 5 studies), with a significant degree of heterogeneity among the studies (I² = 72.99%). The combined analysis of 15 studies before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph showed an overall summary SMR of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.43-2.06; p = 0.0349; 15 studies), with a moderate degree of heterogeneity (I² = 42.99%).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence of a significant association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer mortality. While the possibility of misdiagnosis in earlier studies cannot be completely ruled out, recent findings suggest a robust correlation between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. This highlights the importance of sustained efforts to minimize asbestos exposure and protect public health.

Keywords: Asbestos; Meta-analysis; Ovarian cancer.

Fig. 1

PRISMA flow chart for the metaanalysis of asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer.

Fig. 2

Result of pooled analysis and varification for publication analysis. (A) Meta-analysis of standardized mortality ratio for asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. (B) Begg's funnel plots and Egger's test (p = 0.1830) for identifying publication bias in the meta-analysis of observational studies. ∗Heterogeneity: ( Q = 26.3095, df = 15, p-value = 0.0349, I² = 42.99%). FE Model, Fixed Effect Model, N, number of the ovarian cancer cases; SMR, Standardized Mortality Ratio.

Fig. 3

Meta-analysis of standardized mortality ratio for asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer (Published after 2012 IARC). ∗Heterogeneity: ( Q = 12.8050, df = 4, p-value = 0.0123, I² = 72.99%). N, number of the ovarian cancer cases; RE Model, Random Effect Model; SMR, Standardized Mortality Ratio.