A multifactorial model for ovarian cancer etiology

The three major hypotheses that have been formulated to explain the etiology of ovarian cancer are the incessant ovulation hypothesis, the gonadotropin hypothesis, and the inflammation hypothesis. All models were formulated without reference to the others or to psychoneuroimmunologic approaches and psychoneuroendocrinology. We integrated the three hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer into a three-dimensional process model (3DPOK model). This model takes into account specific and general risk factors, and the concepts mentioned above. The model combines the different approaches to the etiology of ovarian cancer and illustrates possible relationships between the variables of prevention, treatment and follow-up. It may facilitate the generation of hypotheses for further research.