Familial and hormonal risk factors for papillary serous uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To identify genetic and non-genetic risk factors for papillary serous uterine cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. Case women with papillary serous uterine cancer were compared with two control groups: 1) women with endometrioid uterine cancer and 2) healthy women with no past history of cancer. Cases and controls were matched for age (within two years) and ethnic group. All study subjects completed a questionnaire addressing family history. The cases and healthy controls were assessed for factors associated with estrogen exposure. RESULTS: The risks of breast cancer (RR 1.84, CI 1.03-3.31) and of prostate cancer (RR 2.21, CI 0.77-6.37) were higher among the relatives of patients with papillary serous uterine cancer, than among relatives of those with endometrioid uterine cancer. Other significant risk factors included weight at 18 years (p = 0.04) and the use of estrogen replacement therapy (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Relatives of women with papillary serous cancer of the uterus had an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer. Hormonal exposure also increases the risk for this cancer. These findings suggest that predisposing genetic factors, possibly related to hormone metabolism, may be common to the three forms of cancer.