No Correlation Between Estrogen Metabolites, Colorectal Cancer Risk

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Estrogen metabolites (EM), including estrone and estradiol, have no relationship to colorectal cancer (CRC) in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Participants in the study included 15,595 women between 55 to 80 years who donated blood between 1992 and 1993 for cancer through December 2004.  A panel of 15 EM (eg, estrone and estradiol) was measured from 187 cases of CRC.

Results showed no significant associations between estrone (HRQ4 v Q1 = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.69, 1.93; Ptrend =0.54), estradiol (HRQ4 v Q1= 0.98; 95% CI: 0.58, 1.64; Ptrend >0.99) or total EM (the sum of all EM; HRQ4 v Q1=1.35; 95% CI: 0.81, 2.24; Ptrend=0.33) and CRC risk.

Specifically, the metabolites with a 2-, 4-, or 16-pathway had no related risk.  However, a borderline trend was observed with high levels of 17-epiestriol.

The study suggests that future research focus on understanding how exogenous estrogen may be associated with prevention of CRC.