Dr. Alan Arslan

Biography

Alan Arslan, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Population Health. His research interests focus on the development of novel biomarkers for the early detection of ovarian cancer, which is a common cancer of the female reproductive tract and a leading cause of death from gynecologic neoplasms. Dr. Arslan has been awarded the New Investigator Award by the Department of Defense to study the role of soluble Fas, which is a marker of impaired apoptosis and a potential biomarker for ovarian cancer. He has contributed to the growing evidence suggesting that inflammation plays an important role in cancer development. Epidemiological studies indicate that factors leading to chronic inflammation of the ovarian epithelium, such as asbestos/talc exposure and endometriosis, are associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Conversely, factors that reduce local inflammation, including tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and oophorectomy, are linked with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. His findings led to the hypothesis regarding the possible role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Dr. Arslan conducted a preliminary case-control study nested within the NYUWHS prospective cohort, which found a relative risk associated with aspirin use and epithelial ovarian cancer in women who reported aspirin use weekly for at least six months.

Research Interests

Experience