Could High Levels of Specific Protein Help Detect Ovarian Cancer Earlier in Women With Endometriosis? Experts Zero in on Clue That Could Indicate Condition Is Turning Cancerous

“This study gives a perspective on the inflammatory changes that contribute to the transformation of endometriosis into ovarian cancer,” gynecologic surgeon Dr. Aaron Praiss at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center tells SurvivorNet.

More research is needed to understand how IL‑6 testing could eventually fit into diagnosis or treatment, Dr. Praiss adds.

Dr. Bobbie Rimel explains endometriosis terms to know. 

Women living with endometriosis know all too well the pelvic pain, pain during sex, and heavy bleeding symptoms it can cause.

Since the symptoms overlap, many people understandably confuse endometriosis with endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer begins when malignant (cancerous) cells form in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Its hallmark symptoms, including abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, can look very similar to endometriosis.

The key difference is that in endometriosis, the cells remain benign; in endometrial cancer, they become malignant (cancerous).

Similarly, symptoms of ovarian cancer can mimic those of endometriosis or even be mistaken for standard menstrual or digestive issues.

These might include:

• Bloating or a feeling of fullness
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in bowel habits

What Did The Research Show?

Researchers conducting the new study analyzed IL-6 levels in the blood of women with endometriosis and ovarian cancer to see whether higher levels might signal a shift from benign (non-cancerous) disease to malignancy, or whether elevated IL-6 in ovarian cancer patients could indicate more aggressive disease.

“IL‑6 is a very exciting possible biomarker that also might be a target for drug inhibitors,” says Dr. Bobbie Rimel, clinical director of gynecologic oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

Ovarian cancer diagnosis and the importance of biomarkers

Think of biomarkers as certain characteristics that each woman has that can help oncologists predict how they’ll respond to future treatment. Ultimately, the biomarkers for ovarian cancer are one of many factors doctors use to guide treatment decisions.

The new research, which examined 21 different studies, found IL‑6 levels were significantly higher in people with endometriosis compared to those without it.

Women with ovarian cancer had even higher IL‑6 levels than those with endometriosis. The pattern suggests IL‑6 could help distinguish benign endometriosis from those that may become cancerous, though it is not a diagnostic test at this stage. Still, IL‑6 may emerge as a promising marker for disease progression and a potential target for future therapies.

“This is a great step forward as we are always looking for new ways to detect ovarian cancer, especially in high‑risk groups, like those with endometriosis,” Dr. Rimel says.

Experts caution that it’s too early to tie IL‑6 levels directly to symptoms or treatment decisions.

Biomarker testing — a path to better outcomes for cancer patients

“Future research about IL‑6 and other inflammatory cytokines is needed to potentially improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer,” Dr. Praiss says. “Drugs that inhibit IL‑6 and its pathways should be assessed as potential therapeutic options.”

Dr. Rimel agrees, pointing out that the new research was a meta-analysis, and not likely to change practice.

“It usually takes a phase 3 or large‑scale clinical trial to do that. But it might support the design of a novel diagnostics trial, which would be very helpful,” she explains.

Because IL‑6 changes over time rather than appearing as a simple yes/no marker, Dr. Rimel notes that future studies will need to track IL‑6 levels longitudinally to determine whether it can reliably distinguish endometriosis from cancer.

What To Know About Endometriosis

One of the signature identifiers for endometriosis is the severe pain it brings. Although endometriosis isn’t curable, its symptoms can be managed for a better quality of life.

According to the National Institutes of Health, hormone therapy can be an effective treatment option to manage pain.

“Hormone treatments stop the ovaries from producing hormones, including estrogen, and usually prevent ovulation,” the NIH explains. By cutting off estrogen, the activity of the endometrium and endometrial lesions slows down.

Surgery is an option for severe cases where pain is intolerable. Surgeons can remove endometriosis lesions (also called patches) of endometrial tissue often found in the pelvis.

Pain medications are also an option to manage symptoms.

How endometrial cancer surgery can help determine your treatment journey.

What To Know About Endometrial Cancer

Many women facing a new endometriosis diagnosis worry about their cancer risk. While there is some data to suggest having endometriosis can increase your risk of both ovarian and endometrial cancer, the condition itself is not cancerous and the risk is considered low. And though endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer both affect the reproductive tract, endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus while ovarian affects one or both ovaries.

Endometrial cancer is believed to be linked to changes in hormonal balance in the body, particularly estrogen and progesterone, which influence the growth of the endometrial lining.

The imbalance, such as too much estrogen without enough progesterone, can cause the endometrium to grow too much, leading to the development of cancer cells.

“Endometrial cancer is actually when cells of the lining of the uterus become cancerous and begin to invade the uterus wall…[The cancer cells] may spread to the fallopian tubes, to the ovaries or the lining of the pelvis or elsewhere in the body,” Dr. Rimel says.

How to spot the signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.

Surgery is usually the first treatment considered for endometrial cancer when the disease is localized, and that alone may be all that’s necessary. However, more advanced stages of endometrial cancer may require a more targeted treatment approach.

These patients will likely need additional treatments beyond surgery, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis and are looking for ways to better understand your disease and treatment options, here are some key questions to bring to your doctor.

• What do you recommend for pain management?
• What are my options if pain regularly disrupts my daily life?
• Are there any new treatments I can try to manage symptoms?
• Should I undergo extra monitoring to detect cancer early?

You can also turn to SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions,” which helps patients and caregivers navigate a new diagnosis and prepare thoughtful, personalized questions for their care team.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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