British Columbia–Developed Surgery Cuts Deadliest Ovarian Cancer Risk by Nearly 80%
By Health Correspondent
A cancer prevention strategy developed by British Columbia (BC) researchers has been shown to reduce the risk of the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer by nearly 80 per cent, according to a new study published today in JAMA Network Open.
The approach, known as opportunistic salpingectomy (OS), involves removing the fallopian tubes during routine gynaecological surgeries such as hysterectomy or tubal ligation. The ovaries are left intact, preserving hormone production and avoiding early menopause.
B.C. became the first jurisdiction in the world to introduce the procedure in 2010, after researchers discovered that most ovarian cancers begin in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries.
“This study shows that a relatively simple change in surgical practice can have a profound, life-saving impact,” said Dr. Gillian Hanley, associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at UBC.
The study analyzed health data from more than 85,000 people in B.C. who underwent gynaecological surgery between 2008 and 2020.
Those who received OS were found to be 78 per cent less likely to develop serous ovarian cancer, the disease’s most lethal subtype. When cancer did occur, it was typically less aggressive.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological cancer, with about 3,100 Canadians diagnosed each year and no reliable screening test available. As a result, most cases are detected at advanced stages.
Since its introduction, OS has been widely adopted in B.C., with about 80 per cent of eligible surgeries now including the procedure. Medical organizations in 24 countries now recommend OS as a cancer prevention strategy.
Researchers say wider global adoption could prevent thousands of ovarian cancer cases each year, marking a major public-health success story that began in B.C.
