Yang W, Giovannucci EL, Hankinson SE, et al. - Among 609 patients suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC) (370 men and 239 postmenopausal women not receiving hormone therapy at blood collection) and selected from four US cohorts, researchers prospectively evaluated CRC-specific and overall mortality in relation to prediagnostic plasma levels of estrone, estradiol, free estradiol, testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Men demonstrated a lower risk of overall and possibly CRC-specific mortality in relation to the higher circulating level of free testosterone. In men, they generally noted non-significant inverse links for other sex steroids, and a positive link for SHBG with CRC-specific mortality. A suggestive positive link of estrone with overall and CRC-specific mortality was identified in women. In female patients, a general suggestive link of total estradiol, free estradiol, and free testosterone, with a higher risk of mortality was revealed, although this association was not statistically significant. Overall, a potential role of endogenous sex hormones in CRC prognosis was implicated.