Women Needed For Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, Manchester, England

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Cancer / Oncology;  Preventive Medicine
Article Date: 16 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Manchester women at high risk of developing breast cancer are being urged to take part in a pioneering research programme into the prevention of the disease.

The Genesis Appeal, the UK's only charity dedicated entirely to the prevention of breast cancer, is recruiting women to take part in the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study (IBIS II).

The aim of the study is to discover if a new drug, anastrozole, can prevent breast cancer if taken daily for five years. The Genesis Appeal is now seeking postmenopausal women, aged between 40 and 70, to take part in the second part of the trial.

It had initially been feared that the drug could cause impairment of cognitive performance. However, a recent study has revealed that anastrozole has no negative effect on the brain after two years of treatment - as reported in the October edition of The Lancet Oncology.

Women aged 40-70 years, who have been through the menopause, are invited to take part in the trial. Participants must have a family history of breast cancer, or a personal history of non-invasive cancer.

Professor Tony Howell of The Genesis Appeal said: "Results from the study have been extremely positive so far and have shown no negative effects on the brain.

"With breast cancer currently affecting 1 in 10 women, it's absolutely vital that women become involved in the IBIS II research and help Genesis reach its aim of making 1 in 10, none in 10."

Women signing up for the trial will be put in one of two groups. They will either be given a placebo or a daily dose of the preventative drug.

Anyone interested in finding out more should call Jenny Affen or Rosemary Greenhalgh at Wythenshawe Hospital on 0161 291 4420.

-- The Genesis Appeal helped fund the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre, which is Europe's first ever purpose-built centre of its kind. The £14 million state-of-the-art project is based at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. It brings together internationally recognised medical experts and houses ground breaking diagnosis, education and research into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

-- Click here (Lancet article) to read a summary of the research ruling out a link between anastrozole and effects on the brain.