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No association found between bisphosphonates, esophageal cancer risk
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LAS VEGAS — Patients taking bisphosphonates were not at increased risk for developing esophageal cancer in a recent study presented at the 2012 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers evaluated data from three cohort and three-case-control studies retrieved from 42 studies identified in the Medline database. The studies incorporated 3,570 patients with esophageal cancer, and compared cancer outcomes between patients taking bisphosphonates (BP) and controls who were not. Pooled odds ratios were calculated in order to determine the impact of BP on cancer outcomes.
“BP are widely used for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis,” the researchers wrote. “According to some, chronic use of BP may be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Epidemiological studies have evaluated the relationship between BP and the risk of esophageal cancer. However, the results are conflicting.”
Patients on BP were not significantly more likely to develop esophageal cancer (OR=1.02, 0.73-1.42). No significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies (P=.15). Subsequent sensitivity analyses including only full-text studies and separated according to study design resulted in a marginally significant pooled OR when only case-control studies were assessed (OR=1.28, 95% CI, 1.01-1.63), but no other significant changes to OR or study heterogeneity were observed.
“We found no association of oral BP and the increased risk of esophageal cancer at the population level,” the researchers concluded.
For more information:
Ngamruengphong S. P577: Bisphosphonates (BP) and Risk of Esophageal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Presented at: the 2012 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 19-24, Las Vegas.