Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignancies in the Western world. Many studies have investigated a potential association between postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and risk for colorectal cancer. The latest study on this topic has just appeared [1]. Data on HT use were retrieved from the Danish National Prescription Register, and those on cancer from the National Cancer Registry. The cohort was huge (n = 1,006,219 women 50-79 years old without previous cancer), which allowed the extraction of information concerning 8377 cases of colon cancer and 4742 cases of rectal cancer. Use of estrogen-only therapy and use of combined hormonal therapy were associated with decreased risks of colon cancer (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.77 (95% CI 0.68-0.86) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.80-0.96)) and rectal cancer (0.83 (95% CI 0.72-0.96) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.80-1.00)) compared to never users. Transdermal estrogen-only therapy provided more protection than oral administration, while no significant influence was found in regard to regimen or progestin type. The benefit of HT was stronger for long-term hormone users, and hormone users were at lower risk of advanced stage of colorectal cancer.
Author(s)
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Amos Pines
Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Citations
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