Long-Term Safety of Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment in Cancer and Sellar Tumors Adult Survivors: Is There a Role of GH Therapy on the Neoplastic Risk?

Experimental studies support the hypothesis that GH/IGF-1 status may influence neoplastic tissue growth. Epidemiological studies suggest a link between GH/IGF-1 status and cancer risk. However, several studies regarding GH replacement safety in childhood cancer survivors do not show a prevalence excess of de novo cancers, and several reports on children and adults treated with GH have not shown an increase in observed cancer risk in these patients. The aim of this review is to provide an at-a-glance overview and the state of the art of long-term effects of GH replacement on neoplastic risk in adults with growth hormone deficiency who have survived cancer and sellar tumors.

Automated summary

Experimental studies suggest that GH/IGF-1 status may impact neoplastic tissue growth, and epidemiological studies indicate a correlation between GH/IGF-1 status and cancer risk. However, studies on GH replacement in childhood cancer survivors do not show an increased prevalence of new cancers, and reports on GH-treated children and adults do not indicate an elevated cancer risk in these patients. This review aims to provide an overview and the latest updates on the long-term effects of GH replacement on neoplastic risk in adult cancer survivors with growth hormone deficiency and sellar tumors.