Hormonal treatment of the menopause and risk of colorectal cancer

Menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. In this study, researchers analyzed data from 28,486 post-menopausal women, 11,519 of whom were treated with HRT. A polygenic score based on 141 genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer was modeled and its association with colorectal cancer risk assessed. The researchers calculated the cumulative 30-year risk of colorectal cancer in women aged 50, as a function of HRT use and colorectal cancer polygenic score. In women with the highest polygenic score, the 30-year risk of colorectal cancer was significantly lower when women were treated with HRT.