ArticleJNCI cancer spectrum2019
Postmenopausal Androgen Metabolism and Endometrial Cancer Risk in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.
Article in JNCI cancer spectrum, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pre-eclampsia during pregnancy and risk of endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2023Pooled it
- Neighborhood walkability and sex steroid hormone levels in women.Environmental research · 2022Pooled it
- Artificial intelligence-driven integration of multi-biofluid omics and clinical phenotype enables stratification of endometrial cancer.Cell reports. Medicine · 2026Article
- The clinical impact of androgens in endometrial cancer: cancer promoter or suppressor?Endocrine oncology (Bristol, England) · 2026Article
- Article
- Endometrial Atypical Hyperplasia and Risk of Endometrial Cancer.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Associations of tubal ligation and hysterectomy with serum androgen and estrogen metabolites among postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2024Observational
- Causal effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on future gynecologic tumors: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.Cancer medicine · 2024Article
- Polyphenols Influence the Development of Endometrial Cancer by Modulating the Gut Microbiota.Nutrients · 2024Review
- Implications of hormonal carcinogenesis for transgender and gender-diverse people undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy: an up-to-date review.BMJ oncology · 2024Review
- Androgens in endometrial carcinoma: the killer or helper?Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2023Review
- What Role do Androgens Play in Endometrial Cancer?Journal of personalized medicine · 2023Review
- Molecular Regulation of Androgen Receptors in Major Female Reproductive System Cancers.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Analgesic Use and Circulating Estrogens, Androgens, and Their Metabolites in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.) · 2022Observational
- The Clinicopathological Significance and Prognostic Value of Androgen Receptor in Endometrial Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in oncology · 2022Review
- Review of Mendelian Randomization Studies on Endometrial Cancer.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2022Review
- Recreational Physical Activity, Sitting, and Androgen Metabolism among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2022Observational
- Obesity, Height, and Serum Androgen Metabolism among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2021Observational
- Association of Endogenous Pregnenolone, Progesterone, and Related Metabolites with Risk of Endometrial and Ovarian Cancers in Postmenopausal Women: The BCancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2021Article
- Cigarette Smoking and Estrogen-Related Cancer.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAfter menopause, several androgens continue to be produced primarily by the adrenal glands; these can be converted into estrogens via aromatization or into androgen metabolites. It is unclear if androgens are associated with endometrial cancer risk independently of their being precursors to estrogens or if alternative metabolic pathways influence risk.
methodsWe measured prediagnostic serum concentrations of 12 androgens and their metabolites using highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assays in a nested case-control study of postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (313 endometrial cancer case subjects, 354 matched control subjects). Estrogens were previously assayed. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for endometrial cancer with adjustment for confounders.
resultsCompared to the lowest concentrations, the highest levels of adrenal androgens were associated with increased endometrial cancer risk: dehydroepiandrosterone (5th vs 1st quintile: OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.06 to 3.25), androstenedione (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.34 to 4.16), and testosterone (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.12 to 3.24). Downstream androgen metabolites were not associated with endometrial cancer. Although increased risks for the parent androgens were still suggested after adjustment for unconjugated estradiol, the associations attenuated, and with the exception of androstenedione, were no longer statistically significant. We also evaluated ratios of estrogens relative to their androgenic precursors; both higher unconjugated estrone:androstenedione and higher unconjugated estradiol:testosterone were associated with increased endometrial cancer risk.
conclusionsWe identified increased risks for endometrial cancer with the highest levels of adrenal androgens and high levels of estrogens relative to these androgens. As adrenal androgens can be aromatized to estrogens, this suggests androgens likely influence endometrial carcinogenesis via estrogen metabolism.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.