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Osteoporosis drug linked to reduction in colorectal cancer risk
Rennert G. J Clin Oncol. 2011;doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.33.7485.
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The use of oral bisphosphonates for at least 1 year resulted in a 59% reduction in relative risk for colon cancer, according to recently released results from the Molecular Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer study.
Researchers said the risk reduction is similar to what has been reported in breast cancer.
In the study, 933 postmenopausal women with colorectal cancer and a like number of healthy controls were recruited at a health center in northern Israel from 2000 to 2006. The participation rate was 57.6%, with Ashkenazi Jews comprising roughly two-thirds of both cohorts.
Pharmacy records showed that 14.8% of the control group and 10.4% of the patient group filled at least three prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates. Those patients experienced a significant reduction in RR (0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.88).
Researchers saw a similar reduction in risk when the analysis was restricted to first chosen controls and when all potential participants were included (RR=0.61; 95% CI, 0.47-0.80).
Only those who used bisphosphonates for more than a year had a decreased risk for cancer (OR=0.50; 95% CI, 0.36-0.71) compared with those who used the drugs for less than a year (OR=1.10; 95% CI, 0.71-1.72).
Alendronate (Fosamax, Merck) was the most common bisphosphonate used in both cohorts (94.7%). Sixty percent of participants were assigned 10 mg daily alendronate, and the rest were assigned 70 mg weekly. Compliance was estimated at 89% among daily users and 96% among weekly users.
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