Reported
by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist. A continuation study shows that raloxifene, which can block the
harmful effects of estrogen, is linked to long-term protection from breast
cancer.
Raloxifene is a new drug which is taken to treat osteoporosis and may
also protect against breast cancer. In a trial of postmenopausal women with
osteoporosis, raloxifene has already been shown to reduce the incidence of
breast cancer if taken for four years.
In a new study, reported by scientists from the Cancer Institute
Medical Group, Santa Monica, California, women who carried on taking raloxifene
for another four years are found to have continuing protection from breast
cancer. Incidence of invasive breast cancer was down 59 per cent for those on
raloxifene compared to those placebo. For estrogen-receptor positive breast
cancer, reduction in risk was 66 per cent. There was, however, no difference
between the two groups in non-invasive breast cancer or in estrogen-negative
breast cancer. This study sheds new light on ways forward in reducing cancer by
chemoprevention.
