Improved Survival in Young Women With Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

This study demonstrated an opposing effect of gender on overall and cancer-specific survival at either side of the age of 50 yr. The protective effect of estrogen on CRC may be an important factor. Women had a greater proportion of emergency surgery, which was related to the predominance of proximal cancers in this gender. Women also had more proximal cancers, thereby limiting flexible sigmoidoscopy as a screening test.

Changing trends in colorectal cancer: possible cause and clinical implications

“…The incidence and mortality increase with age and the risk of being diagnosed with CRC by age 85 years is one in 10 for males and one in 14 for females [1]. In the last two decades a decline in incidence and mortality rates for CRC has been observed in most developed countries including Australia [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The reasons for this trend may include risk factors modification, introduction of screening and improvements in medical intervention.…”

Estrogen-dependent regulation of sodium/hydrogen exchanger-3 (NHE3) expression via estrogen receptor β in proximal colon of pregnant mice

“…Other studies have also described the function and expression of ER in non-pregnant rat and human (Braniste et al 2009;Koo et al 2008). Thus, the basal level of ER expression in the colonic epithelium seems to be species-dependent.…”

“…Furthermore, estrus cycle-dependent variations in colonic paracellular permeability were reported in the rat colon, and estrogen dependency of this variation was conWrmed by treatment with estrogen agonist and antagonist after OVX (Braniste et al 2009). Moreover, the role of estrogen in proximal colon is also inferred by the lower incidence of proximal colon cancer in young women than men and old women (Koo et al 2008). In these studies, however, it remains to be elucidated whether the eVect of estrogen on the colon is directly mediated through ER expression in the colonic epithelium.…”

An association between the PTGS2 rs5275 polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk in families with inherited non-syndromic predisposition

“…Age discordant and menopause-dependent effects in women's predisposition towards CRC diagnosis and prognosis is well documented. 40 It is also known that hormone replacement therapy is protective against the onset of CRC in women, which suggests that reduced oestrogen production postmenopause may increase the risk of CRC. 41 Functional evidence exists for the involvement of oestrogen in CRC.…”

“…C/C (4) C/T (40) T/T An association between rs5275 and familial cancer J Ross et al genotype carriers. Little can be stated regarding male CC carriers as there were only four observations.…”