Alan A. Arslan, MD

Dr. Arslan research interests focus on development of novel biomarkers for early detection of ovarian cancer, the second most common cancer of female reproductive tract and the leading cause of death from gynecologic neoplasms. Dr. Arslan has been awarded a New Investigator Award from the Department of Defense to study the role of soluble Fas, a marker of impaired apoptosis, as a potential biomarker of ovarian cancer.
Growing evidence suggests that inflammation may play an important role in development of cancer. Epidemiological evidence suggests that factors causing chronic inflammation of ovarian epithelium (asbestos/talc exposure, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease) are also associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Conversely, factors reducing local inflammation, such as tubal ligation and hysterectomy without oophorectomy, are associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. These findings led to a hypothesis on a possible role of chronic inflammation in ovarian cancer. Dr. Arslan conducted a preliminary case-control study nested within the NYUWHS prospective cohort, which found that relative to no aspirin use, the odds ration for epithelial ovarian cancer among women who reported ever use of aspirin three or more times per week for a period of at least 6 months was 0.60 (95% confidence interval 0.26-1.38), after adjustment for age at menarche, parity, oral contraceptive use, and first-degree family history of breast cancer. The observed risk estimates are consistent with growing evidence suggesting that regular use of common anti-inflammatory drugs could be protective not only for colorectal cancer, as known previously, but also for ovarian cancer.
Dr. Arslan is a Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded research projects: CA96428 "Biomarkers of Ovarian Cancer Risk"; CA95923 "Pregnancy Hormonal Profiles as Biomarker of Breast Cancer Risk"; CA108394 "Serum Vitamin D, Genetic Polymorphisms & Ovarian Cancer", and R21 OH012238 "DNA Methylation Profiles and Breast Cancer among WTC Survivors".

Dr. Arslan is a co-PI (with Dr. Shao) in the following CDC/NIOSH-funded project: U01 OH012778 "Integrated analysis of cancer risk and mortality in WTC survivors".