Lung cancer in women: role of estrogens

Abstract

The incidence of lung cancer in females is increasing, in contrast to that seen in males. In addition, the proportion of lung cancer cases in women attributable to smoking is approximately half of that seen in males. Female sex hormones, especially estrogen, may play a key role in this. Estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ have been detected on lung cancer cells and there is new evidence suggesting that hormone-replacement therapy may increase both the incidence of, and mortality from, lung cancer in women. Laboratory evidence lends credence to the carcinogenic effects of estrogens in lung cancer. This article summarizes the current evidence on their role in lung cancer.

Keywords::

• estrogen
• estrogen receptors
• fulvestrant
• hormone-replacement therapy
• lung cancer
• women

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Surinder K Batra and Subhankar Chakraborty are supported in part by grants from the US Department of Defense (BC074631, BC083295 and PC074289) and the NIH (RO1 CA78590, UO1 CA111294, RO1 CA131944, RO1 CA133774, RO1 CA 138791 and P50 CA127297). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.