Hormone replacement cuts colorectal cancer mortality

Last Updated: 2007-01-11 20:39:15 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Postmenopausal women using estrogen have a reduced mortality risk following a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, according to researchers.

In fact, lead investigator Dr. Jennifer A. Chan told Reuters Health, such women have "less likelihood of dying from the disease and all causes if they had been taking estrogen supplements within 5 years of their diagnosis."

In the December 20th issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Chan of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston and colleagues note that postmenopausal estrogen use has been shown to decrease the incidence of colorectal cancer, but its effect on survival after such a diagnosis is unclear.

To investigate further, the researchers studied data on 834 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1976 and 2000 and were followed until 2004.

Compared to women who had never used estrogen, those using the hormone at the time of diagnosis had a 36% lower chance of dying of colon cancer and a 26% lower chance of dying of any cause. The benefit was most pronounced in women who used estrogen for less than five years.

Given these findings, the investigators conclude that "additional efforts to understand mechanisms through which estrogens influence colorectal carcinogenesis and cancer progression seem warranted."

"While it is premature to recommend estrogen use to postmenopausal women with colorectal cancer," added Dr. Chan, "the research offers a potential new avenue of investigation to enhance our ability to treat and cure patients with this malignancy."

J Clin Oncol 2006;24:5680-5686.