Bisphosphonates and risk of oesophageal cancer: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Summary Background Nowadays, the use of bisphosphonates is common. Bisphosphonates play an important role in the therapy and precaution of osteoporosis. The use of bisphosphonates may have concerned with cancer, especially oesophageal and gastric cancer. Nevertheless, whether bisphosphonates would cause oesophageal cancer have not been determined. Methods Two investigators independently selected correlative studies via PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Database in February 2020. No language restriction in our searched strategy. The random effects were used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk of oesophageal cancer in bisphosphonate users compared with non‐users and the adjusted effect size would be used to calculate the combined effect size. We utilised the Egger's regression model to qualify publication bias. The sensitivity analyses were performed in our study to examine the stability of the results. We proceeded in a particular meta‐analysis of observational studies in the relationship between bisphosphonates or alendronate and carcinoma of the oesophagus. Result Finally, there were 10 studies being included in our meta‐analysis. Among them, there were six nested case‐control studies and four cohort studies. Preliminary analysis showed that the use of bisphosphonates was not associated with oesophageal cancer in both nested case‐control group (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92‐1.23) and cohort study (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.63‐1.06). There was no heterogeneity in cohort studies or nested case‐control studies. No significant OR was found in the analyses of continents, women, alendronate and histologic types of oesophageal carcinoma. Conclusion According to the current analysis, the use of bisphosphonates was not associated with the development of oesophageal cancer.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of Antiosteoporotic Efficacy of the Earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa Extract In Orchiectomized Rats

“…Bisphosphonate use has also been linked to esophageal cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and jaw osteonecrosis (Kuehn, 2009;Li & Zhong, 2020). The earthworm's body cavity contains coelomic fluid, which has several anti-inflammatory activities (Bin Dajem et al, 2020).…”

Bisphosphonates and risk of lung cancer

“…[ 16 ] Most previous studies always focused on the role of BPs in the treatment and prevention of cancer metastasis but little research focused on whether the use of bisphosphonate would affect the risk of cancer. At present, much research has focused on the effects of BPs on the esophagus [ 17 – 19 ] but little research has been done on the lung, especially lung cancer.…”