Anti-Estrogens May Slow Lung Cancer Progression

MONDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Women with breast cancer who are treated with anti-estrogens have a lower lung cancer mortality rate than the general population, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Cancer.

Christine Bouchardy, M.D., from the University of Geneva, and colleagues reviewed data from 6,655 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1980 and 2003 who registered at the Geneva Cancer Registry. Of those diagnosed, 3,066 women were treated with anti-estrogens. The women were followed up until December 2007 to identify how many developed and died from lung cancer. Incidence and mortality rates were compared with those expected in the general population. The investigators found that 40 of the women developed lung cancer. Standardized incidence ratios for lung cancer were not significantly lower for breast cancer patients, regardless of whether they were receiving anti-estrogen therapy. However, lung cancer mortality was significantly lower for women taking anti-estrogens, compared to those without anti-estrogens (standardized mortality ratios, 0.13 versus 0.76). "Anti-estrogen treatment for breast cancer was associated with a reduced risk of death from lung cancer, providing new evidence on the role of estrogen in lung cancer progression," the authors write. 

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