Full Results Of Study Comparing Tamoxifen, Raloxifene In Reducing Breast Cancer Risk Presented At Oncology Conference

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 08 Jun 2006 - 16:00 PDT

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Researchers on Monday at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology presented the full findings from a National Cancer Institute-sponsored study comparing the effectiveness of two drugs -- tamoxifen, an FDA-approved drug for reducing breast cancer risk, and raloxifene, a bone strengthening drug sold by Eli Lilly under the brandname Evista -- in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer, the New York Times reports. The study was published on the Journal of the American Medical Association Web site on Monday. The initial results of the study, which examined 19,747 postmenopausal women, found that both drugs reduced a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by about half. According to the study, raloxifene resulted in fewer cases of blood clots, cataracts and uterine cancers, though the difference between tamoxifen and raloxifene in the risk of developing blood clots and uterine cancer was not statistically significant, the Times reports. In newer results presented at the conference on Monday, researchers showed a detailed analysis of the two drugs' side effects and a survey on the physical and mental well-being of about 10% of study participants. According to the newly presented data, there was no difference between the drugs in terms of self-described physical or mental health or depression. Women who took tamoxifen were more likely to experience hot flashes, vaginal bleeding, bladder control problems and leg cramps, and women taking raloxifene were more likely to experience pain during sexual intercourse and joint pain, according to the survey. The Times reports that the new data are not likely to end the debate about whether tamoxifen or raloxifene is better in reducing breast cancer risk (Pollack, New York Times, 6/6).


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