Hormone therapy not found to increase brain cancer risk

Hormone therapy not found to increase brain cancer risk | Image Credit: © natali_mis - © natali_mis - stock.adobe.com.

Hormone therapy (HT) is not associated with common brain malignancy, according to a recent study published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.¹

There has been significant debate over the risks and benefits of HT, with sex hormones often blamed for increased migraine, osteoporosis, depression, Alzheimer disease, brain tumor, and multiple sclerosis risk in women. Conversations surrounding HT often focus on brain and breast health, alongside cancer risk.¹

Glioma is a type of cancer with a sex disparity of 6:1. According to The Menopause Society, “It has been speculated that the disparity is a result of the potential contribution of both exogenous and endogenous sex hormones.”¹

Previous studies evaluating the impact of HT on glioma risk displayed inconsistent results, leading The Menopause Society to conduct a new large-scale study. The trial included over 75,000 women evaluated across a median 12-year follow-up period.¹

Participants included women aged 42 to 78 years between 1993 and 2001.² Initial risk factors in this population were determined through the Baseline Questionnaire (BQ). The BQ obtained self-reported data including basic demographics, height, weight, body mass index, family cancer history, smoking history, disease history, and medical conditions.

Questions about exogenous hormone use were asked to female participants. HT use was determined based on the question “Have you ever used female hormones (tablets, pills, or creams) for menopause?” Additional questions determined current hormone use and the total number of years taking hormones.²

Cancer incidence during follow-up was determined from self-reports, reports from family members, and death certificates. Participants reporting cancer provided additional details, including cancer type, diagnosis date, the hospital or clinic involved, and contact information of the diagnosing physician.²

Participants were aged a median 62 years, and 101 of 75,353 reported glioma during follow-up. Of participants, 88.6% were non-Hispanic White and 69% were married or cohabiting. Education levels exceeding high school, hysterectomy, and oral contraceptive use were more common in HT users than nonusers.²

The unadjusted model showed no significant association between HT use and glioma risk, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.04. The HR in the adjusted model was 1.16, remaining nonsignificant.²

No significant differences with nonusers were found among HT users regardless of current use or former use. Only individuals with a college degree or higher level of education reported a significant association, with an HR of 3.0.²

This data supports the use of HT. This remains beneficial for patients such as individuals with endometriosis, who may experience improved outcomes through tailored hormone therapy.³ Previous data has indicated a link between histopathologic score with dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia treatment, highlighting a significant influence.

"This study found that, although there is a known sex difference in the incidence of gliomas, with women being six times more likely to develop the disease compared with men, there does not appear to be an association between glioma and hormone therapy use in postmenopausal women,” said Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director for The Menopause Society.¹

References

1. New large-scale study suggests no link between common brain malignancy and hormone therapy. The Menopause Society. January 15, 2025. Accessed January 14, 2025.
2. Pan J, Shao C, Xu C, et al. Association between hormone therapy and glioma risk in US women: a cancer screening trial. Menopause. 2025. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002507
3. Krewson C. Tailored hormone therapy improves postoperative endometriosis outcomes. Contemporary OB/GYN. October 3, 2024. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/tailored-hormone-therapy-improves-postoperative-endometriosis-outcomes