Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Estrogens and Endometrial Cancer

A Preliminary Report

  • Chapter
The Menopause and Postmenopause

Abstract

The role of ovarian hormones in endometrial carcinoma was first suspected on the basis of observations of certain endocrine disorders, e.g. polycystic ovary syndrome and hormone secreting ovarian tumors1,2. Recently postmenopausal estrogen therapy became the center of controversy on possible endometrial carcinogenicity3–50. The possible effect of oral contraceptives in causing uterine cancer became equally debated42, 51–59 Several other risk factors have been recognized, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity (possibly because of altered metabolism of steroids), advanced age, nulliparity, delayed menopause, lack of progesterone and family history of uterine cancer or other cancer60–66.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Speert, H. (1949). Cancer of the endometrium in young women. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet., 88, 332

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Larson, J. A. (1954). Estrogen and endometrial carcinoma. Obstet. Gynecol., 3, 551

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Greene, R. R., Roddick, J. W. Jr and Milligan M. (1959). Estrogens, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. Ann. New York Acad. Sei., 75, 586

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gusberg, S. B. and Kaplan, A. A. (1963). Precursors of corpus cancer. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 87, 667

    Google Scholar 

  5. Siiteri, P. K., Schwartz, B. E. and MacDonald, P. C. (1974). Estrogen receptors and the estrone hypothesis in relation to endometrial and breast cancer. Gynecol. Oncol., 2, 228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Quint, B. C. (1975). Changing patterns in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 122, 498

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ryan, K. J. (1975). Cancer risk and estrogen use in the menopause. N. Engl. J. Med., 293, 1199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Smith, D. C., Prentice, R., Thompson, D. J. and Herrmann, W. L. (1975). Association of exogenous estrogen and endometrial carcinoma. N. Engl. J. Med, 293, 1164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Weiss, N. S. (1975). Risks and benefit of estrogen use. N. Engl. J. Med., 293, 1200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ziel, H. K. and Finkle, W. D. (1975). Increased risk of endometrial carcinoma among users of conjugated estrogens. N. Engl. J. Med., 293, 1167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cooke, I. D. (1976). Estrogens as a cause of endometrial carcinoma. Br. Med. J., 1, 1209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gambrell, R. D. Jr (1976). Estrogens, progestogens and endometrial cancer. In P. A. van Keep, R. B. Greenblatt and M. Albeaux-Fernet (eds), Consensus on Menopause Research, pp. 152–3. ( Lancaster: MTP Press )

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gambrell, R. D. Jr (1977). Postmenopausal bleeding. Clin. Obstet. Gynecol., 4, 129

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gambrell, R. D. Jr (1977). Estrogens, progestogens and endometrial cancer. J. Reprod. Med., 18, 301

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Gambrell, R. D. Jr (1978). The prevention of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with progestogens. Maturitas, 1, 107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gambrell, R. D. Jr (1978). The role of hormones in endometrial cancer. South. Med. J., 71, 1280

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gambrell, R. D. Jr, Castaneda, T. A. and Ricci, C. A. (1978). Management of postmenopausal bleeding to prevent endometrial cancer. Maturitas, 1, 99

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gambrell, R. D. Jr, Massey, F. M. and Castaneda, T. A. (1979). The reduction of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with progestogens. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. (In press)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gambrell, R. D. Jr, Massey, F. M. and Castaneda, T. A. (1979). Breast cancer and oral contraceptive therapy in premenopausal women. J. Reprod. Med. (In press)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gordan, G. S. and Greenberg, B. G. (1976). Exogenous estrogens and endometrial cancer. Postgrad. Med., 59 (6), 66

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Greenblatt, R. B. (1976). Menopause. Obstet. Gynecol. Digest, 15, 15

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hoover, R., Fraumeni, J. F. Jr, Everson, R. and Myers, M. H. (1976). Cancer of the uterine corpus after hormonal treatment for breast cancer. Lancet, 1, 885

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kistner, R. W. (1976). Estrogens and endometrial cancer. Obstet. Gynecol., 48 (4), 479

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kohorn, E. I. (1976). Gestagens and endometrial carcinoma. Gynecol. Oncol., 4 (4), 398

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lauritzen, C. (1976). Estrogens and corpus uteri carcinoma. Sexualmedizin, 5, 624

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lilienfeld, A. M. (1976). Exogenous estrogens and endometrial cancer. Postgrad. Med., 59 (6), 61

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mack, T. M., Pike, M. C., Henderson, B. E., Pfeffer, R. I., Gerkins, V. R., Arthur, M. and Brown, S. E. (1976). Estrogens and endometrial cancer in a retirement community. N. Engl. J. Med., 294, 1262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Nachtigall, L. E., Nachtigall, R. H., Nachtigall, R. B. and Beckman, E. M. (1976). Estrogens and endometrial carcinoma. N. Engl. J. Med., 294, 848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sartwell, P. E. (1976). Estrogen replacement therapy and endométrial carcinoma: epidemiologic evidence. Clin. Obstet. Gynecol., 19 (4), 317

    Google Scholar 

  30. Studd, J. (1976). Oestrogens as a cause of endometrial carcinoma. Br. Med. J., 1 (6018), 1144

    Google Scholar 

  31. Berger, G. S. and Fowler, W. C. Jr (1977). Exogenous estrogens and endometrial carcinoma: review and comments for the clinician. J. Reprod. Med., 18 (4), 177

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Casey, M. J. (1977). Estrogens, menopause and cancer. Conn. Med., 41, 776

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gordon, J., Reagan, J. W., Finkle, W. D. and Ziel, H. K. (1977). Estrogen and endometrial carcinoma. An independent pathology review supporting original risk estimate. N. Engl. J. Med., 297 (11), 570

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gray, L.A. Sr, Christopherson, W. M. and Hoover, R. N. (1977). Estrogens and endometrial carcinoma. Obstet. Gynecol., 49, 385

    Google Scholar 

  35. Greenwald, P., Nasca, P. C., Caputo, T. A. and Janerich, D. T. (1977). Cancer risks from estrogen intake. N.Y. State J. Med., 77 (7), 1069

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Greenwald, P., Caputo, T. A. and Wolfgang, P. E. (1977a). Endometrial cancer after menopausal use of estrogens. Obstet. Gynecol., 50 (2), 239

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Horwitz, R. I. and Feinstein, A. R. (1977). New methods of sampling and analysis to remove bias in case-control research: no association found for estrogens and endometrial cancer. Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Invest.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Horwitz, R. I. and Feinstein, A. R. (1978). Alternative analytic methods for case-control studies of estrogens and endometrial cancer. N. Engl. J. Med., 299, 1089

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Knab, D. R. (1977). Estrogen and endometrial carcinoma. Obstet. Gynecol., 32 (5), 267

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Malkasian, G. D., McDonald, T. W. and Pratt, J. H. (1977). Carcinoma of the endometrium - Mayo Clinic experience. Mayo Clin. Proc., 52, 175

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. McDonald, T. W., Annegers, J. F., O’Fallow, W. M., Malkasian, G. D. and Kuland, L. T. (1977). Exogenous estrogen and endometrial carcinoma: case-control and incidence study. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 127, 572

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Reeves, K. O. and Kaufman, R. H. (1977). Exogenous estrogens and endometrial carcinoma. J. Reprod. Med., 18, 297

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Rust, J. A., Langley, I. I., Hill, E. C. and Lamb, E. J. (1977). Estrogens: do the risks outweigh the benefits? Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 128 (4), 431

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Scully, R. E. (1977). Estrogens and endometrial carcinoma. Hum. Pathol., 8 (5), 481

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Whitehead, M. I., Campbell, S. C., King, R. J., McQueen, J. and Nordin, B. E. (1977). Oestrogen treatment and endometrial carcinoma. Br. Med. J., 2 (6084), 453

    Google Scholar 

  46. Whitehead, M. I. (1978). The effects of oestrogens and progestogens on the postmenopausal endometrium. Maturitas, 1, 87

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Buchman, M. I., Kramer, E. and Feldman, G. B. (1978). Aspiration curettage for asymptomatic patients receiving estrogen. Obstet. Gynecol., 51 (3), 339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Greenblatt, R. B. and Stoddard, L. D. (1978). The estrogen-cancer controversy. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 26, 1

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Antunes, C. M. F., Stolley, P. D., Rosenshein, N. B., Davies, J. L., Tonascia, J. A., Brown, C., Burnett, L., Rutledge, A., Pokempner, M. and Garcia, R. (1979). Endometrial cancer and estrogen use. Report of a large case-control study. N. Engl. J. Med., 300, 9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Hammond, C. B., Jelovsek, F. R. and Lee, K. L. (1979). Effects of long-term estrogen replacement therapy. 11. Neoplasia. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 133, 537

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Lyon, F. A. (1975). The development of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in young women receiving long-term sequential oral contraception. Report of four cases. Ant. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 123, 299

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Lyon, F. A. and Frisch, M. J. (1976). Endometrial abnormalities occurring in young women on long-term sequential oral contraception. Obstet. Gynecol., 47, 639

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Silverberg, S. G. and Makowski, E. L. (1975). Endometrial carcinoma in young women taking oral contraceptive agents. Obstet. Gynecol., 46, 503

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Silverberg, S. G., Makowski, E. L. and Roche, W. D. (1977). Endometrial carcinoma in women under 40 years of age: comparison of cases in oral contraceptive users and non-users. Cancer, 39 (2), 592

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kelly, H. W., Miles, P. A., Buster, J. E. and Scragg, W. H. (1976). Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in women taking sequential oral contraceptives. Obstet. Gynecol., 47, 200

    Google Scholar 

  56. Cohen, C. J. and Deppe, G. (1977). Endometrial carcinoma and oral contraceptive agents. Obstet. Gynecol., 49, 390

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Hanson, F. W. (1977). Oral contraceptives: a possible association with liver tumors and endometrial carcinoma. Adv. Planned Parent., 12 (2), 86

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Moghissi, K. S. (1977). Oral contraceptives and endometrial and cervical cancer. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 3 (12), 243

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Wigle, D. T. and Grace, M. (1977). Reproductive cancer and hormone use. Ani. J. Epidemiol., 106 (3), 233

    Google Scholar 

  60. MacMahon, B. (1974). Risk factors for endometrial cancer. Gynecol. Oncol., 2 (2–3), 122

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Aleem, F. A., Moukhtar, M. S., Hung, H. C. and Romney, S. L. (1976). Plasma estrogen in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. Cancer, 38 (5), 2101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Gusberg, S. B. (1976). The individual at high-risk for endometrial carcinoma. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 126, 535

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Schindler, A. E. (1976). Estrogens and endometrial cancer: aspects of etiology and survival rate. Arch. Geschirulst%orsch., 46 (5), 345

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Shoemaker, E. S., Forney, J. P. and MacDonald, P. C. (1977). Estrogen treatment of postmenopausal women. Benefits and risks. J. Am. Med. Assoc., 238, 1524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. MacDonald, P. C., Edman, C. D., Hemsell, D. L., Porter, J. C. and Siiteri, P. K. (1978). Effect of obesity on conversion of plasma androstenedione to estrone in postmenopausal women with and without endometrial cancer. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 130 (4), 448

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Lachnit-Fixson, U. (1979). Oestrogens during the menopause and the risk of endometrial carcinoma. In O. Kraupp and E. Deutsch (eds), Wiener Klinische Wochenschri%t, pp. 1–22. ( Wien: Springer-Verlag )

    Google Scholar 

  67. Graham, J. (1971). The value of preoperative or postoperative treatment by radium for carcinoma of the uterine body. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet., 132, 855

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Graham, R. M. (1976). Estrogens and endometrial carcinoma. N. Engl. J. Med., 294 (15), 847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Bross, I. (1954). Is there an increased risk? Fed. Proc., 13, 818

    Google Scholar 

  70. Jick, H., Watkins, R. N., Hunter, J. R., Dinan, B. J., Madsen, S., Rotahman, K. J. and Walker, A. M. (1979). Replacement estrogens and endometrial cancer. N. Engl. J. Med., 300, 218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Kreuter, A. Jr, Johnson, D. and Williamson, H. O. (1976). Histology of the endometrium in long-term use of a sequential oral contraceptive. Fertil. Steril., 27, 905

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. J. L. Ambrus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Gilette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Nolan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O. Jung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Regalla-Spavento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P. Spavento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Novick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. C. Suchetzky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. M. Ambrus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cattedra di Patologia Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Univeristà di Roma, V. le Regina Elena, 324-00161, Roma, Italy

    N. Pasetto

  2. Istituto di Farmacologia, Università di Milano, Via Vanvitelli, 32-Milano, Italy

    R. Paoletti

  3. Department of Health, State of New York, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, 14263, Buffalo, New York, USA

    J. L. Ambrus

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 MTP Press Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ambrus, J.L. et al. (1980). Estrogens and Endometrial Cancer. In: Pasetto, N., Paoletti, R., Ambrus, J.L. (eds) The Menopause and Postmenopause. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7230-1_23

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7230-1_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7232-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7230-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation