Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2)
The Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2) is an NCI-supported consortium dedicated to studying the etiology of this common cancer through collaboration among investigators. The overall objective of E2C2 is to build on resources from existing studies by combining data across studies in order to advance our understanding of the etiology of this disease.
About Endometrial Cancer
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, the organ where the fetus grows before birth. The endometrium is very responsive to hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. In menstruating women, the endometrial lining is sloughed off every month and then grows back to support an embryo if fertilization takes place.
© 2009 Terese Winslow, U.S. Govt. has certain rights
In 2011, endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in about 46,000 women in the US, making this the fourth most common cancer in women in the U.S. Survival is high, with about 85% of women alive 5 years after a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. However, certain subtypes of endometrial cancer have a less favorable prognosis, and in 2011, 8,000 deaths from endometrial cancer are expected in the U.S.
Most women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed in their 60s or early 70s. A major risk factor for endometrial cancer is overweight or obesity. Exposure to estrogen replacement therapy without progestin increases risk, but today this is not prescribed for women with a uterus. Reproductive factors also influence risk: women with children, and larger numbers of children, are at lower risk, as are women who have used oral contraceptives. View more information on risk factors
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About E2C2
E2C2 welcomes researchers interested in better understanding the etiology of endometrial cancer. Learn more about E2C2 membership.
As shown on the map below, more than 45 studies have joined E2C2 since its inception in 2006.
Study Design: 21 case-control and 24 cohort studies
Geography: 2 Asia, 29 North America, 13 Europe, 1 Australia
Published results from E2C2 studies include:
- A description of the background and development of the consortium
- An analysis of genetic variants in a gene, CYP19A1, that is important in estrogen production (link here) and in obesity-related genes, FTO and MC4R
Several other papers are currently being prepared for publication. View a list of E2C2 publications.
Contacts
NCI Contacts:
- Leah Mechanic, Ph.D., M.P.H., Host Susceptibility Factors Branch, Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
- Hannah Yang, Ph.D., Sc.M., Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
Extramural Investigator:
- Sara Olson, Ph.D., Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
