Estrogen-related cancer risk published
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute published in the Journal of the American Medical Association results of a study in 44,241 postmenopausal women who had participated in a nationwide breast cancer screening program, identifying 329 women who had developed ovarian cancer during follow-up. Women taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 10-19 years showed an 80% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, and women taking estrogen-only HRT for 20 or more years showed a 220% higher risk. Women taking estrogen-progestin therapy did not show an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
The news sent shares of HRT developers Wyeth (WYE), Noven (NOVN) and Novavax (NVAX) down for the second time in two weeks. On Wednesday, WYE was off $3.85 (11%) to $30.90 on 32.1 million shares; NOVN was down $3.385 (22%) to 11.935 on 4.3 million shares; and NVAX was off $0.40 (16%) to $2.10. ...