A META-ANALYTICAL APPROACH EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TALC EXPOSURE AND OVARIAN-CANCER

The concern that use of talc or talc-containing substances in the peri neal region of women may subject them to an increased risk for ovarian cancer has become an important issue in the study of ovarian cancer. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether this concern, heighten ed by several epidemiological studies purporting to show an increased risk, is valid. Epidemiological studies examining the possibility of t his relationship are reviewed, and meta-analyses of their results are performed. The conclusion reached herein is that the evidence regardin g the risk of ovarian cancer associated with talc exposure is equivoca l, and further examination of the relationship is required before a so und conclusion can be made.