Study reports protective effect of raloxifene against breast cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Raloxifene can reduce breast cancer risk, especially among women with a family history of the disease.
Raloxifene has been used to prevent spinal fractures among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. It's also thought to have some protective effect against breast cancer and this has been tested in the MORE (Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation) trial; this showed a 72 per cent reduction in invasive breast cancer incidence after four years of treatment, versus placebo. The trial was extended for another four years and this showed that eight years treatment was linked to a 66 per cent decrease in breast cancer risk.

Now researchers at the University of Michigan have looked at results from both trials. This showed that women at both high and low risk of breast cancer could be protected by raloxifene. High risk factors include being older, being overweight and having a family history of the disease. Raloxifene reduces the risk of breast cancer by 89 per cent among women with a family history and by 58 per cent among those who don't have a family history of the disease. It's not clear why protection afforded by raloxifene is greatest among those who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer but clearly the findings are encouraging for these women. Investigation into raloxifene and how it compares with tamoxifen, the standard drug for warding off breast cancer continues.

Source
Clinical Cancer Research 1st September 2006