Folate and Ovarian Cancer

 Posted by Chantel Martiromo 

Ovarian cancer is defined as a condition of  abnormal ovarian cells growth of ovaries.  It is one of most common cancer in US, according to the statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010, an estimated 21,880 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 13,850 deaths.
Folate, also known as folic acid, vitamin B9, is a water soluble vitamin, found abundantly in leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, whole grain, etc. The vitamin plays an important role in synthesize DNA, repair DNA, and methylate DNA as well as to act as a cofactor in certain biological reactions, production of red blood cells for anemia prevention.

Epidemiological studies, focusing folate in reduced risk of ovarian cancer have been inconclusive.
Folate, a member of B vitamin plays an important role in DNA synthesis and methylation, may process an anti proliferative effect in ovarain cancer cell lines. The Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (1363 cases, 1414 controls) self-completed risk factor and food-frequency questionnaires, showed a little evidence to support the effect of folate in reduced risk of ovarian cancer(1) and  ovarian cancer survival(2). Other researchers suggested that no specific dietary factors are consistently associated with ovarian cancer risk, including folate(3), neither folate intake, MTHFR C677T polymorphism(4) nor one-carbon metabolism(5)
A prospective case-control study of the effect of Folic acid and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) against ovarian cancers in 215 ovarian cancer patients and 218 controls (all Chinese) between Jan. 2004 and Jan. 2007, indicated a result of a 2.43-fold increased risk of ovarian cancer among MTHFR 677TT carriers, and a decreased risk of ovarian cancer in individuals with high folate intake(6). Intravenous administration of composition of  FA-NP showed more potent in anti proliferation than NP against both SKOV3 cells and SKOV3/TAX cells, but at the same dose failed to induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor nodule number. Of these results, researchers suggested that the combined use of both FN-NP locally and targetly might prolong the survival time in patients with drug-resistant ovarian cancer(6). The Brigham and Women's Hospital study also supported the evidence of one-carbon metabolism related nutrients, especially vitamin B(7) and methionine inlowering ovarian cancer risk, with a 1910 women with ovarian cancer and 1989 controls from a case-control study conducted in eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire from 1992 to 2008(8).

Taking all together, there are either enough evidences supported or unsupported  the effectiveness of folate in reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Further studies with large sample size and mutli centers studies are necessary to clarify the effect of folate in ovarian cancer risk. At the mean time as always, all articles written by Kyle J. Norton are for information & education only, please consult your Doctor & Related field specialist before applying

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References
(1) Folate and related micronutrients, folate-metabolising genes and risk of ovarian cancer by Webb PM¹, Ibiebele TI, Hughes MC, Beesley J, van der Pols JC, Chen X, Nagle CM, Bain CJ, Chenevix-Trench G; Australian Cancer Study (Ovarian Cancer); Australian Ovarian Cancer Study Group.(PubMed)
(2) Dietary folate and related micronutrients, folate-metabolising genes, and ovarian cancer survival by Dixon SC¹, Ibiebele TI², Protani MM¹, Beesley J², Defazio A³, Crandon AJ⁴, Gard GB⁵, Rome RM⁶, Webb PM¹, Nagle CM⁷; on behalf of the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study Group.(PubMed)
(3) Dietary intake and ovarian cancer risk: a systematic review, by Crane TE¹, Khulpateea BR, Alberts DS, Basen-Engquist K, Thomson CA.(PubMed)
(4) Folate intake and MTHFR polymorphism C677T is not associated with ovarian cancer risk: evidence from the meta-analysis by Li C¹, Chen P, Hu P, Li M, Li X, Guo H, Li J, Chu R, Zhang W, Wang H.(PubMed)
(5) Relationship between dietary and supplemental intake of folate, methionine, vitamin B6 and folate receptor alpha expression in ovarian tumors by Kotsopoulos J¹, Hecht JL, Marotti JD, Kelemen LE, Tworoger SS(PubMed)
(6) Folate intake and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms as predictive and prognostic biomarkers for ovarian cancer risk by Zhang L¹, Liu W, Hao Q, Bao L, Wang K.(PubMed)
(7) Folic acid-coupled nano-paclitaxel liposome reverses drug resistance in SKOV3/TAX ovarian cancer cells by Tong L¹, Chen W, Wu J, Li H.(PubMed)
(8) Folate, vitamin B(6) , vitamin B(12) , methionine and alcohol intake in relation to ovarian cancer risk by Harris HR¹, Cramer DW, Vitonis AF, DePari M, Terry KL.(PubMed)