Review

Hormone Replacement Therapy after Treatment of Endometrial Cancer
Siriwan Tangjitgamol^a, Sumonmal Manusirivithaya^a, Jitti Hanprasertpong^b, John J. Kavanagh^c

Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
^aBangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, and
^bFaculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand;
^cDepartment of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Austin, Tex., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Gynecol Obstet Invest 2008;65:35-38 (DOI: 10.1159/000106776)

  Key Words

• Endometrial cancer
• Estrogen or hormone replacement therapy
• After cancer treatment

  Abstract

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after endometrial cancer (EMC) treatment is an uncertain subject with limited exploration among gynecologic cancer research. Because estrogen is a well-recognized etiologic factor of EMC, most physicians are probably reluctant to provide a replacement therapy, or limit its use to only a selected group of patients. In order to give an overview on this subject, we searched the English-language literature to identify relevant studies or reports. We found that HRT did not appear to increase the recurrence or death rates in EMC. However, most information came from retrospective studies with selection bias, or from a small prospective non-randomized study. The only randomized controlled trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group could also not provide a definite answer regarding its safety and recommendation. In conclusion, on the basis of the currently available studies, HRT after EMC treatment does not appear to have an adverse effect on EMC. Nevertheless, because of a limitation of data, the physician should thoroughly consider all possible benefits and theoretical risks of recurrence or mortality in each individual to provide the best of care for their patients.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Siriwan Tangjitgamol
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital
681 Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300 (Thailand)
Tel. +66 2244 3405, Fax +66 2243 7907, E-Mail siriwanonco@yahoo.com

  Article Information

Published online: August 6, 2007
Published online: January 15, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 9