 |
|
UK Study Suggests Possible Link Between Colorectal Cancer And Human Growth Hormone Therapy (p 273)
July 24, 2002Authors of an observational study in this week's issue of THE LANCET highlight a possible link between human growth hormone therapy and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The investigators comment that further evidence is required before firm conclusions can be made, and stress that there is no evidence from their study as to whether there is an association between modern synthetic growth hormone treatment and increased cancer risk.
Human pituitary growth hormone was widely used to counteract short stature in children and young adults up to the mid 1980s; since then synthetic growth hormone has replaced human growth hormone therapy. Previous research has suggested a possible link between naturally occurring growth hormone concentrations and an increased risk of cancer; however there are no long-term follow-up data on growth-hormone-treated patients to support this association.
Anthony Swerdlow, Michael Preece, and colleagues from The Institute of Cancer Research and Institute of Child Health, UK, did a population study to investigate cancer incidence and death in 1848 people in the UK who were treated during childhood and early adulthood with human pituitary growth hormone between 1959 and 1985. The risk of cancer in the study population was compared with that in the general population.
Patients treated with human pituitary growth hormone had an almost threefold increased risk of death from cancer overall, and were at around an eleven times greater risk of dying from colorectal cancer or Hodgkin's disease. After the exclusion of patients whose reason for growth hormone treatment rendered them at a high risk of cancer, the risk of incidence of colorectal cancer was significant, as were the risks of death from colorectal cancer or Hodgkin's disease.
Anthony Swerdlow comments: "Our data do not show conclusively whether cancer incidence is increased by growth hormone treatment, but they do suggest the need for increased awareness of the possibility of cancer risks, and for surveillance of growth hormone-treated patients."
In an accompanying Commentary, Edward Giovannucci from Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, concludes: "It must be emphasised that the treatment of growth hormone deficiency has established health benefits, and that there is no evidence that physiological growth-hormone replacement increases cancer risk. While the data reported by Swerdlow and colleagues should not discourage appropriate treatment of growth hormone deficiency, they should provoke reassessment of the risks and benefits of growth hormone therapy for more controversial indications that are unrelated to growth hormone deficiency, particularly if such treatment is prescribed for long periods."
Lancet
Colorectal Cancer Current Events and Colorectal Cancer News RSSCT colonography offers 1-stop screening for cancer and osteoporosis
New research reveals that computed tomography (CT) colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, has the potential to screen for two diseases at once-colorectal cancer and osteoporosis, both of which commonly affect adults over age 50.
Screening for colorectal cancer detects unrecognized disease
Screening for colorectal cancer detects four out of ten cancers and should be carefully designed to be more effective, according to a study published today on bmj.com.
A Simple Blood Test for Colon Cancer
People are often reluctant to undergo a routine but painful colonoscopy ― but the consequences can be fatal. According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the third most common cancer found in American men and women and kills about 50,000 Americans every year.
New platinum-phosphate compounds kill ovarian cancer cells
A new class of compounds called phosphaplatins can effectively kill ovarian, testicular, head and neck cancer cells with potentially less toxicity than conventional drugs, according to a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Survival of head and neck cancer patients is greatly affected by coexisting ailments
Current estimates for head and neck cancer survival are largely inaccurate because they widely disregard many of the most common diseases such patients have in addition to their primary cancer, says Jay Piccirillo, M.D., a head and neck specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Home-based diet and exercise intervention improves elderly cancer survivors' physical function
A home-based program to improve exercise and diet led to significant, clinically meaningful improvement in body weight and physical function among older long-term cancer survivors in preliminary findings from the RENEW (Reach-out to ENhancE Wellness) trial.
Adalimumab may reduce health-care costs for Crohn's disease patients
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that refers to both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). IBD occurs most frequently in people in their late teens and twenties. There have been cases in children as young as two years old and in older adults in their seventies and eighties; men and women have an equal chance of getting the disease.
SNPs affect folate metabolism in study of Puerto-Rican adults
Researchers at Tufts University have gained further understanding of the genomic basis for altered folate metabolism and the content of uracil in blood DNA.
National call for cancer clinical trial system to be more responsive to community needs
Addressing the nation's continuing poor performance in cancer clinical trial participation, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and low income groups, will require meaningful public involvement in the design and implementation of clinical trials, according to a landmark report released today.
Surgical Removal of Small Colon Polyps is Costly and Unnecessary
Polypectomy (the surgical removal of polyps by colonoscopy) of small polyps found during CT colonography is costly and unnecessary according to a study performed at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI.
More Colorectal Cancer Current Events and Colorectal Cancer News Articles
 | What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM) Colorectal Cancer: New Tests, New Treatments, New Hope (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About...) by Mark Bennett Pochapin Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and/or rectum) is the second leading cancer killer in the United States - over 50,000 men and women die from it each year. This is a particularly alarming statistic since it is also one of the most preventable and most treatable forms of cancer. In fact, it is estimated that over one-third of colorectal cancer deaths could easily be avoided. But most people,... |
 | Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer: Self-Help and Treatment by Carol Ann Larson Colorectal cancer develops slowly over a period of several years, undetected, usually as polyps. It is a preventable and treatable disease if caught in time, yet most know little about how to read its symptoms. Written for the layperson, this book covers all the uncomfortable questions and answers about the disease, from prevention and warning signs, to screening and diagnosis techniques, to... |
 | American Cancer Society's Complete Guide to Colorectal Caner by American Cancer Society Don't die of embarrassment--get informed about colorectal cancer Although colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women, you may be unaware of your risk and don't know what you can do to prevent this serious disease. You may be too embarrassed to ask your doctor about changes in your bowel habits or get screened for colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society's Complete... |
 | Be a Survivor: Colorectal Cancer Treatment Guide (Be a Survivor) by Vladimir Lange Dr. Lange’s comprehensive overview of cancer and treatment options offers detailed information using simple, concise language and a wide variety of color photos and drawings. Colorectal cancer patients need to know more about their disease, yet there is an overload of information. Be a Survivor gives the patient the specific, reliable and necessary information to make good decisions about their... |
 | Colorectal Cancer Written by world authorities on the subject, this reference comprehensively covers every aspect of colorectal cancer. Addressing the molecular mechanisms, genetics, identification, and therapy of disease, this guide covers new pharmaceutical developments, current screening protocols, and modern methods of disease management by specialists at renowned institutions such as the Royal Marsden... |
 | Colorectal Cancer: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Handbook (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Handbooks) Written by eminent authors, Colorectal Cancer - a title in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute series - is produced in full color and is richly illustrated throughout, providing a review of each cancer including its incidence, epidemiology, etiology and histopathology, together with the clinical features. Diagnostic studies and current clinical and pathological staging are also given. Detailed... |
 | The American Cancer Society : Colorectal Cancer by Bernard Md Levin From America's leading cancer authority comes a patient's advocacy book for colorectal cancer patients--and their families--that offers medical expertise, practical advice, and emotional support.Colon and rectal cancers (or colorectal cancer) affect more and more people each year and account for about 11 percent of all new cancer cases and 10 percent of all cancer-related deaths. More than 95,000... |
 | 100 Questions & Answers About Colorectal Cancer by David Bub Whether you're a newly diagnosed cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of either, this book offers help. The only text to provide the doctor's and patient's view. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this frightening disease. The authors consist of two oncologic surgeons and a cancer care social worker from Memorial... |
| Colorectal Cancer by Harold J. Wanebo | |
 | Challenges in Colorectal Cancer The latest guidance on challenging and controversial aspects of colorectal cancerColorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the US and Europe. Thousands of people are diagnosed with the disease every year and nearly half of these die as a result. As colorectal cancer is curable when detected early, a significant proportion of these deaths could be prevented by earlier... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |