A straightforward surgical approach developed in Canada may dramatically reduce the risk of the deadliest form of ovarian cancer.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) report that removing the fallopian tubes during certain routine gynecological surgeries can lower the risk of this cancer by nearly 80 percent.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, provide strong evidence that the strategy could save thousands of lives.
The procedure, called opportunistic salpingectomy, involves removing the fallopian tubes when a person is already undergoing surgery such as a hysterectomy or tubal ligation, commonly known as “having one’s tubes tied.”
Importantly, the ovaries are left in place, which means hormone production continues normally and menopause is not affected.
The idea behind the approach emerged when scientists discovered that many ovarian cancers actually begin in the fallopian tubes rather than in the ovaries themselves.
By removing the tubes before cancer can develop, doctors can prevent the disease at its earliest stage. British Columbia became the first region in the world to offer this option in 2010, and it has since been widely adopted there.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal cancer affecting the female reproductive system. In Canada alone, about 3,100 people are diagnosed each year and around 2,000 die from the disease. One reason it is so deadly is that there is no reliable screening test, so it is often detected only after it has spread.
The new study analyzed health data from more than 85,000 people in British Columbia who underwent gynecological surgery between 2008 and 2020. Researchers compared those who had their fallopian tubes removed with those who did not.
They found that individuals who underwent opportunistic salpingectomy were 78 percent less likely to develop the most common and aggressive form of ovarian cancer, known as serous ovarian cancer.
In the rare cases where cancer still developed after the procedure, it tended to be less severe.
Doctors say the approach is safe, does not increase surgical complications, and is cost-effective for healthcare systems. Since its introduction, about 80 percent of hysterectomies and tubal ligation procedures in British Columbia now include removal of the fallopian tubes.
The strategy has gained international attention. Medical organizations in more than 20 countries now recommend the procedure as a prevention option for people already undergoing related surgeries.
Researchers believe that expanding its use worldwide could prevent many ovarian cancer cases each year.
Efforts are also underway to extend the practice to other abdominal and pelvic surgeries when appropriate, allowing even more patients to benefit. Experts emphasize that preventing cancer before it starts is often far more effective than trying to treat it later.
This innovation shows how a relatively small change in surgical practice can have a major impact on public health. By targeting the true origin of many ovarian cancers, opportunistic salpingectomy offers new hope against a disease that has long been difficult to detect and treat.
