Anti-MUC1 antibodies may protect against ovarian cancer

Epithelial mucin (MUC1) is overexpressed in many cancers including ovarian cancer, and anti-MUC1 antibodies may have a role in reducing the risk of these cancers, researchers report in the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

As lead investigator Dr. Daniel W. Cramer told Reuters Health, "our research strongly points to an immune response involving the tumor protein, MUC1, as a mechanism that explains protection associated with several 'traditional' risk factors for ovarian cancer, such as oral contraceptive use and tubal ligation, as well as previously unreported risk factors." Dr. Cramer of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and colleagues came to this conclusion after measuring anti-MUC1 antibodies in 668 women with ovarian cancer and 705 controls.Factors that predicted anti-MUC1 antibodies included oral contraceptive use, intrauterine device use, breast infection, bone fracture and osteoporosis. Anti-MUC1 antibodies were seen in 24.2% of women with none or only one of these conditions. However, the proportion rose to 51.4% in those with five or more.Moreover, the risk for ovarian cancer was inversely associated with the number of conditions predisposing to anti-MUC1 antibodies.Compared with women with one or no associated conditions, the relative risk of ovarian cancer in those with two conditions was 0.69. Corresponding risks in women with three were 0.64, with four, 0.49 and with five, 0.31.An implication of these findings, concluded Dr. Cramer "is that it should be possible to create a vaccine to protect against ovarian and perhaps other cancers that express MUC1, such as those of the breast and uterus."(Source: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14:1125-1131: Reuters Health: Oncolink: June 2005.)