Peripheral oxytocin in human ovarian cancer: implications for disease progression and patient well-being

Oxytocin is well known for its role in human social behavior and the stress response. A smaller body of literature examines the anti-inflammatory properties of oxytocin in the context of medical disease. In this dissertation, I examine naturally-occurring oxytocin in ovarian cancer patients and look at relationships between naturally occurring oxytocin, inflammation, survival and psychosocial factors. This dissertation is comprised of three projects. The first project identifies and characterizes oxytocin the ovarian tumor microenvironment for the first time and provides initial evidence that oxytocin has protective effects in ovarian cancer via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The second project expands on the results of Project 1 by demonstrating that higher levels of naturally occurring oxytocin are associated with better quality of life in ovarian cancer patients, and that these findings are partially mediated by the relationship between oxytocin and IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine of prognostic significance in ovarian cancer. Project 3 demonstrates relationships between oxytocin, stress and protective psychosocial factors (e.g. social support, psychological well-being). This dissertation research identifies oxytocin in the ovarian tumor microenvironment for the first time and provides initial evidence of its clinical significance, both in regards to disease processes and patient well-being.