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Written by Allen Lawrence, M.D.
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Saturday, 26 February 2011 10:15 |
 A new study suggests that women using bisphosphonates to prevent osteoporosis may have a reduced risk of colon cancer. Women taking bisphosphonates (the most common of which sold in the USA are alendronate [Fosamax], ibandronate [Boniva], risedronate [Actonel], and zoledronate [Zometa]) for the treatment of osteoporosis after menopause appear to be less likely to develop colon cancer.
"The lower risk of colorectal cancer risk seen among bisphosphonate users in this study is intriguing," says Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society, "However, these results should be interpreted with caution and require confirmation by additional studies."
In a new study performed by Dr. Gad Rennert of the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Rennert reviewed cases of some 933 women with colon cancer. The average age of these women was just over 70. He then reviewed a comparison group of women who did not have colon cancer, he then matched the first group in age, ethnicity and clinics where they received treatment.
Because in earlier studies researchers have found that women taking bisphosphonates appeared to have a lower risk of breast cancer (since bone thinning, osteoporosis, is tied to low estrogen levels, it was reasoned that what reduced colon cancer risk in women. The use of bisphosphonates for longer than 1 year has been associated with a 28% relative reduction in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer and that the use of oral HRT is associated with a 63% relative reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. It was then reasoned that bisphosphonates might also reduce colon cancer risk in women at increased risk for colon cancer which has also been tied to low estrogen levels.
The project found that women who had been taking bisphosphonates, in this study mainly alendronate (Fosamax) for at least one year had a considerably lower risk of developing colon cancer later on.
Even after considering other factors tied to the disease, such as aspirin or statin use, a high fiber diet from eating lots of vegetables, the risk of the women using bisphosphonates was still 59 percent lower than those women who had not been using this drug.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in 19 men develops colorectal cancer at some point in their life, while slightly fewer women also do. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
In the end, this news is both good and bad. While there may be a preventive aspect to bisphosphonates there are also certain important risks. Alendronate, while currently used by millions of women across the globe and appears to have few major side effects, although in rare cases it has been linked as a causative factor in bone death of the jaw. There may also be a higher risk of throat cancer in patients on this medication
Because of these two factors listed above Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society says, “Based on current evidence, bisphosphonates should not be used for prevention of colorectal cancer. He continues, “Fortunately, there are proven ways to help prevent colorectal cancer. In particular, all Americans, 50 or older, should get a screening test so that precancerous polyps can be detected and removed before they turn into cancer."
Other articles by Dr, Rennert regarding Breast and Colon Cancer, HRT and Bisphosphonates:
Cancer Prevention and Control: Use of Bisphosphonates and Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Use of Bisphosphonates and Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
For more information regarding Osteoporosis and other ways to treatments it, click here.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 26 February 2011 10:54 |
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