Breast cancer chemoprevention: Medicines that reduce breast cancer risk
If you're at high risk of breast cancer, you may be able to improve your odds of staying cancer-free by taking certain medicines, an approach known as chemoprevention or preventive therapy.
Medications for breast cancer chemoprevention are the subject of much ongoing research.ADVERTISING
Here's a look at what's known about each of these medications, including how they may work to prevent breast cancer and the possible side effects and health risks.
Tamoxifen
How it works
Tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen -- a reproductive hormone that influences the growth and development of many breast tumors.
Tamoxifen belongs to a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and it reduces the effects of estrogen in most areas of the body, including the breast. In the uterus, tamoxifen acts like an estrogen and encourages the growth of the lining of the uterus.
Tamoxifen is prescribed as a pill you take once a day by mouth. For breast cancer risk reduction, tamoxifen is typically taken for a total of five years. The risk reduction benefit continues for five additional years after you stop taking tamoxifen, so in total, women receive up to 10 years of benefit.
Who it's for
Tamoxifen is used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in high-risk women age 35 and older, whether or not they've gone through menopause.
Generally speaking, you and your doctor might consider whether chemoprevention with tamoxifen is right for you if:Your Gail Model risk score is greater than 1.7 percent. The Gail model is a tool doctors use to predict future risk of developing breast cancer, based on factors such as your age, reproductive history and family history. You're at high risk of developing breast cancer -- for instance, you've had a breast biopsy that found a precancerous condition such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia or atypical lobular hyperplasia. You have a strong family history of breast cancer. You don't have a history of blood clots.
Common side effects
Common side effects of tamoxifen include:Hot flashes Night sweats Vaginal discharge Vaginal dryness
Risks
Rarely, taking tamoxifen may cause:Blood clots Endometrial cancer or uterine cancer Cataracts Stroke
The risk of uterine cancer for premenopausal women taking tamoxifen is very low, compared with those who have undergone menopause. The benefits of tamoxifen outweigh the risks in premenopausal women who have an increased risk of breast cancer due to a strong family history of the disease or a personal history of precancerous breast changes.
In women who have undergone menopause, the benefits of tamoxifen may outweigh the risks in women who have an increased risk of breast cancer and have also had surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy).
Raloxifene
How it works
Raloxifene (Evista) is another drug in the class known as SERMs. It's also prescribed in pill form, to be taken by mouth once a day for five years.
Like tamoxifen, raloxifene works by blocking estrogen's effects in the breast and other tissues. Unlike tamoxifen, raloxifene doesn't exert estrogen-like effects on the uterus.
Who it's for
Raloxifene is used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in high-risk women who are past menopause (postmenopausal). You're considered at high risk if you score greater than 1.7 percent on the Gail model.
Raloxifene is also used for prevention and treatment of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Common side effects
Common side effects of raloxifene include:
-- Hot flashes
-- Vaginal dryness or irritation
-- Joint and muscle pain
-- Weight gain
Risks
Health risks associated with raloxifene are similar to those associated with tamoxifen.
Both drugs carry an increased risk of blood clots, though the risk may be lower with raloxifene. However, raloxifene may be associated with fewer cases of endometrial and uterine cancers than is tamoxifen.
Raloxifene may also be linked to fewer strokes than tamoxifen in women at average risk of heart disease. But if you have heart disease or you have multiple risk factors for heart disease, raloxifene may increase your risk of strokes.
Although tamoxifen may be slightly better than raloxifene at reducing the risk of breast cancer, the risk of blood clots and uterine cancer also are lower with raloxifene. For this reason, raloxifene may be a preferred option for women who have undergone menopause and who haven't undergone a hysterectomy or who have osteoporosis.
Aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors are commonly used to treat breast cancer that's hormone receptor positive in postmenopausal women. These drugs are also an option for breast cancer chemoprevention.
How they work
Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that reduce the amount of estrogen in your body, depriving breast cancer cells of the fuel they need to grow and thrive.
Three aromatase inhibitors are currently approved for use in the treatment of postmenopausal women with breast cancer: anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara).
These medications are used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women with estrogen- or progesterone-responsive tumors.
Who they're for
Aromatase inhibitors have been studied and shown to be effective in postmenopausal women to treat breast cancer and to prevent breast cancer recurrence. Aromatase inhibitors are not intended for preventing breast cancer recurrence in women who still have menstrual cycles.
Aromatase inhibitors, specifically exemestane and anastrozole, have been studied to see if they may reduce the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women, such as those with a family history of breast cancer or a history of precancerous breast lesions. Studies have shown promise in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in these high-risk women.
Based on these results, some women and their doctors may choose to use aromatase inhibitors to reduce the risk of breast cancer, though these drugs aren't approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this use.
Additional studies are underway to determine whether aromatase inhibitors may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer.
Common side effects
Common side effects of aromatase inhibitors include:
-- Hot flashes
-- Vaginal dryness
-- Joint and muscle pain
-- Headache
-- Fatigue
Risks
Aromatase inhibitors increase the risk of bone thinning (osteoporosis).
Aromatase inhibitors aren't associated with an increased risk of blood clots or uterine cancer, as tamoxifen and raloxifene are. Because aromatase inhibitors are a newer class of medications, not much is yet known about long-term health risks, such as heart disease and broken bones (fractures).
As more results from research studies become available, doctors will have a better idea of the long-term health implications for these drugs and their effectiveness in breast cancer chemoprevention.
Source: Mayo Clinic
