Bisphosphonates and risk of oesophageal cancer: A meta‐analysis. Issue 3 (31st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Minghao; Zhong, Muyan
• Is Part Of: GastroHep. Volume 2:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2020-05-31
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Hepatology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1002/ygh2.400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2689-3711

Abstract

Summary: Background: Nowadays, the use of bisphosphonates is common. Bisphosphonates play an important role in the therapy and precaution of osteoporosis. The use of bisphosphonates may have concerned with cancer, especially oesophageal and gastric cancer. Nevertheless, whether bisphosphonates would cause oesophageal cancer have not been determined. Methods: Two investigators independently selected correlative studies via PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Database in February 2020. No language restriction in our searched strategy. The random effects were used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk of oesophageal cancer in bisphosphonate users compared with non‐users and the adjusted effect size would be used to calculate the combined effect size. We utilised the Egger's regression model to qualify publication bias. The sensitivity analyses were performed in our study to examine the stability of the results. We proceeded in a particular meta‐analysis of observational studies in the relationship between bisphosphonates or alendronate and carcinoma of the oesophagus. Result: Finally, there were 10 studies being included in our meta‐analysis. Among them, there were six nested case‐control studies and four cohort studies. Preliminary analysis showed that the use of bisphosphonates was not associated with oesophageal cancer in both nested case‐control group (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92‐1.23) and cohort study (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.63‐1.06). There was no heterogeneity in cohort studies or nested case‐control studies. No significant OR was found in the analyses of continents, women, alendronate and histologic types of oesophageal carcinoma. Conclusion: According to the current analysis, the use of bisphosphonates was not associated with the development of oesophageal cancer.