Use of common analgesic medications and ovarian cancer survival: results from a pooled analysis in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

Br J Cancer. 2017 Apr 25;116(9):1223-1228. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.68. Epub 2017 Mar 28.

Abstract

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with improved survival in some cancers, but evidence for ovarian cancer is limited.

Methods: Pooling individual-level data from 12 Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium studies, we evaluated the association between self-reported, pre-diagnosis use of common analgesics and overall/progression-free/disease-specific survival among 7694 women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (4273 deaths).

Results: Regular analgesic use (at least once per week) was not associated with overall survival (pooled hazard ratios, pHRs (95% confidence intervals): aspirin 0.96 (0.88-1.04); non-aspirin NSAIDs 0.97 (0.89-1.05); acetaminophen 1.01 (0.93-1.10)), nor with progression-free/disease-specific survival. There was however a survival advantage for users of any NSAIDs in studies clearly defining non-use as less than once per week (pHR=0.89 (0.82-0.98)).

Conclusions: Although this study did not show a clear association between analgesic use and ovarian cancer survival, further investigation with clearer definitions of use and information about post-diagnosis use is warranted.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin