CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Scientists launched an international trial Tuesday to determine if a drug used to treat breast cancer can prevent the disease in high-risk women. Anastrozole, made by AstraZeneca under the brand name Arimidex, has already been shown to be as good or better than the drug tamoxifen in a trial of older women with hormone-sensitive tumors. Researchers will now test it against a placebo in 10,000 older women who have twice the normal risk of breast cancer to see if it can stop the disease from developing. Jack Cuzick, of Cancer Research U.K. and the University of London, said the new trial could have a dramatic impact on the disease and could reduce the risk of hormone-sensitive breast tumors by more than 50%. "It is about 1-1/2 times as good as tamoxifen in terms of treatment," he told a news conference marking the launch the trial, which will be run from 40 centers worldwide. In an earlier study tamoxifen, which is the standard hormone treatment for estrogen-sensitive tumors, was shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer by one third in women at a higher risk of the disease. Anastrozole belongs to a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. They suppress the production of the female hormone estrogen in postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen works by preventing the action of estrogen on the cells of the breast. Cuzick, who will lead the international research team, said anastrozole has fewer side effects than tamoxifen--which can increase the risk of endometrial cancer, blood clots, and hot flashes--so more women are able to take the drug. But there was a greater risk of bone fractures with anastrozole. Women in the trial will be closely monitored, and those with low bone density will be given treatments to improve it. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with more than 1 million cases diagnosed worldwide each year. Risk factors include family history of the disease, early puberty, late menopause, delaying childbirth, or not having children. Some studies have suggested that lesbians are also at a higher risk for the disease.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Joe Biden sends queer lawmakers & LGBTQ+ allies to Paris Olympics
July 24 2024 12:08 PM
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM