Growth hormone therapy and risk of recurrence/progression in intracranial tumors: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency is common in intracranial tumors, which is usually treated with surgery and radiotherapy. A number of previous studies have investigated the relationship between the growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) and risk of tumor recurrence/progression; however, the evidence remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to estimate the potential relation between GHRT and intracranial tumors recurrence/progression. Three comprehensive databases, PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, were researched with no limitations, covering all published studies till the end of July, 2014. Reference lists from identified studies were also screened for additional database. The summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by fixed-effects models for estimation. Fifteen eligible studies, involving more than 2232 cases and 3606 controls, were included in our meta-analysis. The results indicated that intracranial tumors recurrence/progression was not associated with GHRT (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.56), and for children, the pooled RR was 0.44 and 95% CI was 0.34-0.54. In subgroup analysis, risks of recurrence/progression were decreased for craniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, glioma, but not for pituitary adenomas, and non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA), ependymoma. Results from our analysis indicate that GHRT decreases the risk of recurrence/progression in children with intracranial tumors, craniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, or glioma. However, GHRT for pituitary adenomas, NFPA, and ependymoma was not associated with the recurrence/progression of the tumors. GH replacement seems safe from the aspect of risk of tumor progression.

• Authors: Liang Shen, Chun Ming Sun, Xue Tao Li, Chuan Jin Liu, You Xin Zhou
• Journal: Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (Neurol Sci) Vol. 36 Issue 10 Pg. 1859-67 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1590-3478 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 26048536 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)

Chemical References

• Human Growth Hormone

Topics

• Brain Neoplasms (physiopathology, therapy)
• Disease Progression
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (adverse effects, methods)
• Human Growth Hormone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (therapy)