Estrogen and Lung Cancer
New York Times Health July 15, 2010
Q. Is there anything that healthy women should do about avoiding too much estrogen, since it is found in some cancers?
A. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that estrogen plays a role in lung cancer progression.
In the Women’s Health Initiative, a large randomized study of post-menopausal women comparing the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to placebo, HRT users were more likely to die from lung cancer. Women using HRT in the Vitamins & Lifestyle (VITAL) trial were more likely to develop lung cancer, and the longer they used HRT the greater their risk of getting the disease.
In studies of women who had been successfully treated for breast cancer, anti-estrogens not only protected them from a recurrence of their breast cancer, they were also less likely to develop lung cancer.
Estrogen receptors are found in at least 70% of lung tumors - from both women and men - indicating that the connection is not specific to women.
As a consequence of these and other studies, most physicians are recommending that HRT be used only if no other therapy can control post-menopausal symptoms, and for as short a time as possible. Many oncologists are also now recommending that post-menopausal patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer discontinue HRT use as soon as they are able.
Sincerely,
Regina Vidaver, PhD
Executive Director
National Lung Cancer Partnership
