February 25, 2015
The Lancet
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The authors examined 52 epidemiological studies to evaluate the relationship between hormone therapy and ovarian cancer risk. Of the total of 12,110 postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 55% had used hormone therapy. Risk was increased in current users, even with Hormone therapy may have a causal relationship with types of ovarian cancer. This would result in one extra cancer per 1000 users, and one extra death per 1700 users, for women who use hormone treatment for 5 years from the age of 50 years.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Half the epidemiological studies with information about menopausal hormone therapy and ovarian cancer risk remain unpublished, and some retrospective studies could have been biased by selective participation or recall. We aimed to assess with minimal bias the effects of hormone therapy on ovarian cancer risk.
METHODS
Individual participant datasets from 52 epidemiological studies were analysed centrally. The principal analyses involved the prospective studies (with last hormone therapy use extrapolated forwards for up to 4 years). Sensitivity analyses included the retrospective studies. Adjusted Poisson regressions yielded relative risks (RRs) versus never-use.
FINDINGS
During prospective follow-up, 12 110 postmenopausal women, 55% (6601) of whom had used hormone therapy, developed ovarian cancer. Among women last recorded as current users, risk was increased even with
INTERPRETATION
The increased risk may well be largely or wholly causal; if it is, women who use hormone therapy for 5 years from around age 50 years have about one extra ovarian cancer per 1000 users and, if its prognosis is typical, about one extra ovarian cancer death per 1700 users.