Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39745894›Full record

ArticleJournal of the National Cancer Institute2025

Timing of depression in relation to risk of ovarian cancer.

Andrea L Roberts, Mary K Townsend, Lori B Chibnik, Laura D Kubzansky, Shelley S Tworoger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A Multistate Survival Model to Identify Risk Factors for Lethal Ovarian Cancer.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2026
    Article
  2. RE: Timing of depression in relation to risk of ovarian cancer.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2025
    Article
  3. Response to Lehrer.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Andrea L RobertsDepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-5023-4399
Mary K TownsendDepartment of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-2452-4477
Lori B ChibnikDepartment of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-6293-806X
Laura D KubzanskyDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-4039-2235
Shelley S TworogerDepartment of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-6986-7046

Funding

Statistical MethodsP01CA087969 · NCI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI ELIASSEN, A. HEATHER, TAMIMI, RULLA M · 2000 to 2019
$77.8M
Life Course Cancer Epidemiology Cohort in WomenU01CA176726 · NCI · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI ELIASSEN, A. HEATHER, WILLETT, WALTER C. · 2018 to 2025
$22.4M
Long Term Multidisciplinary Study of Cancer in Women: The Nurses Health StudyUM1CA186107 · NCI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI ELIASSEN, A. HEATHER, STAMPFER, MEIR · 2014 to 2023
$22.3M
Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense W81XWH2110326NCI NIH HHS P01 CA087969NCI NIH HHS U01 CA176726NCI NIH HHS UM1 CA186107NIH HHS UM1CA186107Nurses' Health Studies
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral studies have suggested that depression may be associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. Less is known about whether timing matters regarding when depression occurs. To provide evidence for an etiologically relevant exposure period, we examined depression occurring during the time in which precursor lesions develop and progress to invasive carcinoma with the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

methodsUsing data from 2 prospective cohorts (1992-2015), we divided follow-up into consecutive 2-year periods for analytic purposes, referred to as "cancer ascertainment periods." We estimated associations of depression in the 10 years before each cancer ascertainment period with incident cancer, using Cox proportional hazards models. Next, we estimated associations of depression occurring up to 18 years before each ascertainment period, in 2-year increments, with incident cancer. We adjusted for demographic, health, and behavioral factors. All tests of statistical significance were two-sided, with a P-value threshold of less than .05.

resultsDepression occurring in the 10 prior years was associated with 30% greater risk of cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.15 to 1.46). Associations were similar in fully adjusted models (HR = 1.27). Depression occurring in the 14 years before ascertainment was associated with elevated risk, although only estimates for depression 0-2, 6-8, and 8-10 years before ascertainment reached statistical significance (HR range = 1.20-1.36).

conclusionDepression occurring up to 14 years before cancer ascertainment was associated with greater cancer risk. This is the time of precursor progression to invasive ovarian carcinoma, suggesting depression may be an ovarian cancer-promoting agent.

Indexed as

DepressionOvarian NeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidenceMiddle AgedProportional Hazards ModelsProspective StudiesRisk FactorsTime Factors

Identifiers

PMID39745894
PMCPMC12058258

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.