Characteristics of ovarian and uterine cancers in a cohort of in vitro fertilization patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the features of cancers of the uterus, ovary, and other uterine adnexae in a large cohort of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients and to thereby assist gynecologic oncologists in counseling patients with a history of infertility.

METHODS

Record-linkage to population-based cancer registries was used to determine the incidence of invasive cancer in a cohort of 29,700 IVF patients. Pathology reports were made available by the cancer registries and reviewed blind to IVF treatment status. Patient information was abstracted from IVF clinic records.

RESULTS

Twelve cancers of the uterus and 13 cancers of the ovary and other uterine adnexae were identified and pathology reports were reviewed for all but 1. Patients ranged in age at diagnosis from 28 to 48 years. Five cancers were diagnosed within 8 months of referral for IVF or IVF treatment; the others were diagnosed between 1 and 12 years later. The ovarian cancers were of the following histologic types: serous (4), mucinous (1), seromucinous (1), endometrioid (3), clear cell (2), and unknown type (1). A choriocarcinoma of the fallopian tube was diagnosed in a woman with a history of tubal infertility. Cancers of the uterus included endometrial adenocarcinomas (8), stromal sarcomas (2), and leiomyosarcomas (2). Ovarian cancer was diagnosed in a woman with Bloom's syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with increased cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

Cancer cases in this large, well-defined cohort of IVF patients show a broad range of patient and tumor characteristics. We found an increased incidence of uterine sarcoma in women with a history of infertility. Increased ascertainment of preexisting cancers in the course of infertility investigations and management is to be expected.