Affiliation
School of Cancer and Imaging Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. arenehan@picr.man.ac.ukIssue Date
2008-08
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Acromegaly is an endocrine disorder characterized by sustained hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) with concomitant elevation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) associated with premature mortality from cardiopulmonary diseases and certain malignancies. In particular, there is a two-fold increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Possible mechanisms underlying this association include elevated levels of circulating GH and IGF-I, but several other plausible processes may be relevant. In a parallel literature, there has been debate whether GH replacement therapy is associated with increased cancer risk in three scenarios: (1) tumour recurrence in children with previously treated cancer; (2) second neoplasms (SNs) in survivors of childhood cancer treated with GH; and (3) de-novo cancer in non-cancer patients treated with GH. The general evidence suggests no increased risk in scenario 1. Through a maze of complex study designs, there is inconclusive evidence of a very modest increase in cancer risk in treated GH-deficiency patients in scenarios 2 and 3, but it is likely that the cumulative risk equates to that of the general population. This emphasizes the need for patient selection balanced against the known morbidity of untreated GH deficiency.Citation
Acromegaly, growth hormone and cancer risk. 2008, 22 (4):639-57 Best Pract. Res. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Journal
Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & MetabolismDOI
10.1016/j.beem.2008.08.011PubMed ID
18971124Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
1532-1908ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.beem.2008.08.011
Scopus Count
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