Genetic Clue May Identify Women Where HRT Ups Risk of Breast Cancer

A genetic clue may eventually help doctors identify which women face an increased risk of breast cancer from using hormone replacement therapy, according to University of Southern California researchers.

The researchers, reporting at a meeting sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, said that in studying mammograms of 233 women, they discovered that those with a genetic variant developed denser breast tissue after using estrogen and progestin therapy.

Mammographic density is a risk factor for breast cancer .

"We already know that only some women who use hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progestin go on to develop breast cancer," said Dr. Giske Ursin.

"If we could have a way of picking out the subset of women who are at risk for breast cancer from using standard hormone replacement therapy, we could offer these women some other treatment for their postmenopausal complaints," Ursin said.

Other Sources: University of Southern California