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Environment, lifestyle, and cancer in women
Sara Farina, Alessandra Sabatelli, Stefania Boccia, Giovanni Scambia. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2025-04-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Environmental and lifestyle factors significantly contribute to gynecological cancers. The risk of ovarian cancer, one the most lethal gynecological cancer, is associated with obesity, poor dietary habits, and environmental pollutants, exacerbating hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Protective factors, such as the Mediterranean diet and oral contraceptives, modulate risk by reducing ovulatory cycles, particularly in genetically predisposed women. Uterine cancer is associated with metabolic factors, with obesity driving hormonal disruptions and systemic inflammation. Physical inactivity and diets rich in animal fats increase the risk of endometrial cancer, along with air pollution and microbiome imbalances contribute to endometrial carcinogenesis. Cervical cancer is primarily driven by persistent high-risk HPV infection, with smoking enhancing viral persistence and oncogenesis. Nutritional deficiencies in antioxidants and folate weaken immune defenses, while vaginal and gut microbiome dysbiosis fosters neoplastic progression. Vulvar and vaginal cancers, though less common, share risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and occupational exposures, disrupting immune responses and epithelial integrity. Microbial imbalances exacerbate these malignancies, creating a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. The interplay between modifiable factors and genetic predisposition, including high-penetrance mutations and polygenic risk scores, highlights the complexity complexity of prevention of gynecological cancers. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, further modulate susceptibility and tumor progression, influenced by environmental and lifestyle exposures. In addition, promoting and supporting healthy lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, increased physical activity, and a balanced diet, are crucial for improving long-term outcomes and quality of life in gynecological cancer survivors. Addressing these factors through personalized prevention, leveraging predictive models incorporating genetics and modifiable risks, enables tailored lifestyle interventions and avoidance of environmental exposures. Combined with equitable public health initiatives, these strategies have the potential to reduce the burden of gynecological cancers and improve women's health globally.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
This review is about environmental and lifestyle factors in gynecological cancers, not Alzheimer's disease, so it provides no information on Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention. It describes risk factors such as obesity, diet and pollution for cancers of the ovary, uterus, cervix, vulva and vagina.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Farina, S., Sabatelli, A., Boccia, S., & Scambia, G. (2025). Environment, lifestyle, and cancer in women. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.70156
Vancouver
Farina S, Sabatelli A, Boccia S, Scambia G. Environment, lifestyle, and cancer in women. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 2025. doi:10.1002/ijgo.70156. PMID: 40277318.
BibTeX
@article{farina2025-40277318,
author = {Farina, Sara and Sabatelli, Alessandra and Boccia, Stefania and Scambia, Giovanni},
title = {{Environment, lifestyle, and cancer in women}},
journal = {International Journal of Gynecology \& Obstetrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/ijgo.70156},
pmid = {40277318},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.70156}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Environmental and lifestyle factors significantly contribute to gynecological cancers.
- The risk of ovarian cancer, one the most lethal gynecological cancer, is associated with obesity, poor dietary habits, and environmental pollutants, exacerbating hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
- Uterine cancer is associated with metabolic factors, with obesity driving hormonal disruptions and systemic inflammation.
Why it matters
This review is about environmental and lifestyle factors in gynecological cancers, not Alzheimer's disease, so it provides no information on Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention. It describes risk factors such as obesity, diet and pollution for cancers of the ovary, uterus, cervix, vulva and vagina.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics: journal h-index 187 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 16 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 16 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Giovanni Scambia: h-index 120 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore: institution h-index 606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40277318) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.70156
- PubMed: 40277318
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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