Study to See if Anastrozole Can Prevent Breast Cancer in Higher-Risk Women

Researchers have launched a major study to see if a new drug might be able to prevent breast cancer in women who are at higher risk than most of developing the disease.

Anastrozole, a member of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors that suppress production of the female hormone estrogen, has already been shown to be as effective or better than tamoxifen in a recurrence in older women who have had breast cancer.

Researchersl now plan to test it against a placebo in 10,000 older women who have twice the ordinary chance of getting breast cancer to see if it can prevent the disease.

Women who have a mother or sister who developed breast cancer under the age of 50, and women over 60 who had their first baby after the age of 30 or who have not had children, are considered part of this higher risk category.

The researchers believe that anastrozole could reduce the numbers developing breast cancer by about 50 percent.

Other Sources: IBIS2