Associations between Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Colorectal, Lung, or Melanoma Cancer Recurrence and Mortality: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Objective: to develop eligibility criteria for use in non-gynecological cancer patients. Methods: We searched all the articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to March 2021. We utilized the PICOS standards and the following selection criteria: menopausal women with a history of non-gynecological and non-breast cancer who underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using various preparations (oestrogens alone or in combination with a progestogen, tibolone, or tissue selective oestrogen complex) and different routes of administration (including oral, transdermal, vaginal, or intra-nasal). We focused on randomized controlled trials as well as relevant extension studies or follow-up reports, specifically examining recurrence and mortality outcomes. Results: Women colorectal cancer survivors who use MHT have a lower risk of death from any cause than those survivors who do not use MHT. Women who are skin melanoma survivors using MHT have a longer survival rate than non-MHT survivors. There is no evidence that women lung cancer survivors who use MHT have a different survival rate than those who do not use MHT. Conclusions: MHT is safe for women who have a history of colorectal, lung, or skin melanoma cancers.

Keywords: cancer survival; menopausal hormone treatment.

Figure 1

(a) Colorectal cancer. Mortality from any cause (data from prospective and retrospective studies). Summary of pooled risk estimates. The association between HRT use in women with colorectal cancer and all-cause mortality. (b) Colorectal cancer. Mortality attributable to colorectal cancer (data from prospective and retrospective studies). Summary of pooled risk estimates. The association between HRT use in women with colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer mortality. Note. HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence intervals; HRT: hormone replacement therapy [30,31,32,33].

Figure 2

Melanoma. Mortality (from any cause) and recurrence. Summary of pooled risk estimates. The association between HRT use in women with melanoma and all cancer mortality. Note. HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence intervals; HRT: hormone replacement therapy [41].