Growth Hormone Treatment and Neoplasia – Coincidence or Consequence? (JCEM 2007)

The LWPES believes that current treatment recommendations with recombinant human GH for children with documented GH deficiency are safe and without proven increased risk of inducing malignancy. Treatment for any indication with recombinant GH therapy in children should be accompanied by regular monitoring of IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations to ensure that they are maintained within age-appropriate limits. The possible association between increased cancer incidences and/or mortality and GH treatment be further critically investigated in a large cohort, especially in those treated with human-derived GH by protocols similar to those reported by Swerdlow et al. Large databases of such patients are available and should be critically reviewed. Surveillance and monitoring of ongoing long-term results of GH therapy should be encouraged and supported.