The safety of hormone replacement therapy in gynecological cancer survivors

Abstract

Treatment of gynecological cancers often induces a premature menopause. Plus advancing treatments mean more gynecological cancer survivors are living to physiological menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has proven substantial long-term benefits in physiological menopause and premature menopause particularly. We aimed to evaluate the current evidence on the safety of HRT in gynecological cancer survivors to help clinicians counsel these patients. HRT is not contraindicated in most gynecological cancer survivors, as evidence available often shows safety or even benefit with HRT use. However, HRT is contraindicated in a few cancers-in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, high-risk endometrial carcinoma, and some uterine sarcomas. Caution is advised in high-grade serous, late-stage endometrioid, and granulosa ovarian carcinomas when there is substandard evidence demonstrating safety, but also a theoretical harm present. Due to deficient large randomized controlled trials and methodological biases being present in most studies, HRT use needs to be individualized in most cancers-ovarian carcinomas, endometrial carcinomas, and cervical adenocarcinomas. Justification for HRT use is strong, and HRT is not contraindicated in most gynecological cancers due to largely reassuring evidence. More robust long-term data are needed for further reliable guidance for clinicians and patients.

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