Estrogen, Diet, Genetics and Endometrial Cancer

March 23, 2026 updated by: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The purpose of this study is to see how people's diets, other aspects of their lifestyles, and their individual genetic makeup affect their chances of getting endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterus).

This survey will enroll several hundred women who have or have had endometrial cancer and several hundred who do not. We will compare these two groups of women to see what factors may lead to endometrial cancer.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

We will conduct a population-based case-control study in six counties of New Jersey. Cases will be women with newly-diagnosed endometrial or ovarian cancer. Controls will be matched by 5-year age groups and selected by random digit dialing (for those under 65), from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) files (for those 65 and over), or from neighborhood sampling. Controls will not have had a hysterectomy.

There will be 400 cases with endometrioid tumors, 60 with serous tumors or clear cell tumors, 300 with ovarian cancer, and 400 controls. In addition, there will be a small group of black women included from MSKCC.

We will interview participants about known and potential risk factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer and obtain information on diet. We will obtain DNA for genetic analysis from buccal specimens collected using a mouthwash rinse method. We will use logistic regression to determine odds ratios for disease with various exposures. For endometrial cancer, we will examine the association of risk with genotypes in strata defined by body mass index and dietary fat consumption.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

1315

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10065
        • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

In collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services NJDHSS), we will use rapid case ascertainment to identify patients as they are diagnosed.For controls aged 65 and over, we will obtain lists from CMS of a sample of women in the 6 counties. As an alternative way of reaching controls, we will conduct area sampling.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with epithelial endometrial or ovarian cancer within the year before being contacted (cases)
  • Aged 21 and over
  • Residents of Essex, Union, Morris, Middlesex, Bergen, or Hudson counties, NJ
  • Black women with and without endometrial cancer who are seeing gynecologists at MSKCC

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to sign informed consent
  • Consent withheld by physician (cases)
  • Hysterectomy (controls)
  • Do not speak English or Spanish

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Cases
Cases will be women with newly diagnosed endometrial or ovarian cancer who are residents of six counties in New Jersey.
The main questionnaire will cover established risk and protective factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer, as well as other possible risk factors. This includes: menstrual history; pregnancy history; use of hormones for menopausal symptoms or other reasons; smoking history; height and weight; use of oral contraceptives and other methods of birth control; family history of cancer; medical history; demographic characteristics. We will also collect dietary data using the Gladys Block questionnaire, to which we have added a supplement to measure consumption of phytoestrogens. We will also obtain a buccal sample from each respondent as the source of DNA for genetic analysis.

The main questionnaire will cover established risk and protective factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer, as well as other possible risk factors. This includes: menstrual history; pregnancy history; use of hormones for menopausal symptoms or other reasons; smoking history; height and weight; use of oral contraceptives and other methods of birth control; family history of cancer; medical history; demographic characteristics. We will also collect dietary data using the Gladys Block questionnaire, to which we have added a supplement to measure consumption of phytoestrogens. We will also obtain a buccal sample from each respondent as the source of DNA for genetic analysis.

We will conduct interviews mainly by telephone but also in person (at home or another convenient place)if the participant prefers.

Controls
Controls will be selected from the general population in those counties by use of random digit dialing for those under 65 years of age, from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) lists for those aged 65 years and over, and from neighborhood sampling.
The main questionnaire will cover established risk and protective factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer, as well as other possible risk factors. This includes: menstrual history; pregnancy history; use of hormones for menopausal symptoms or other reasons; smoking history; height and weight; use of oral contraceptives and other methods of birth control; family history of cancer; medical history; demographic characteristics. We will also collect dietary data using the Gladys Block questionnaire, to which we have added a supplement to measure consumption of phytoestrogens. We will also obtain a buccal sample from each respondent as the source of DNA for genetic analysis.

The main questionnaire will cover established risk and protective factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer, as well as other possible risk factors. This includes: menstrual history; pregnancy history; use of hormones for menopausal symptoms or other reasons; smoking history; height and weight; use of oral contraceptives and other methods of birth control; family history of cancer; medical history; demographic characteristics. We will also collect dietary data using the Gladys Block questionnaire, to which we have added a supplement to measure consumption of phytoestrogens. We will also obtain a buccal sample from each respondent as the source of DNA for genetic analysis.

We will conduct interviews mainly by telephone but also in person (at home or another convenient place)if the participant prefers.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
To investigate the role of weight, diet, and individual genetic susceptibility to endometrial cancer
Time Frame: 3 years
3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
The secondary aim of this study is to obtain epidemiologic data on papillary serous and clear cell histologic types of endometrial cancer.
Time Frame: 3 years
3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 25, 2001

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 24, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 24, 2007

First Posted (Estimated)

January 8, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 23, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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