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Researchers
reported new study results at the 3rd European Breast Cancer
Conference showing that treatment with anastrozole is far
more effective than tamoxifen in reducing the risk of new
breast cancers in post-menopausal women.
The researchers
reported latest results from a study of more than 9,000 women
who were given either anastrozole, tamoxifen or a combination
of both.
Patients
taking anastrozole had a 58 percent lower risk of developing
a new tumor than those taking tamoxifen, the researchers reported.
And for women who previously had receptor-positive breast
tumors, anastrozole lowered the risk by 64 percent. The combination
therapy appeared no better than tamoxifen alone.
Dr. Jeffrey
Tobias, a researcher at University College Hospital in London,
termed the results "exceptional."
"We
know that women successfully treated for early breast cancer
still have a 3-fold increased risk of developing a new tumour
in the opposite breast compared with women who have not had
breast cancer," Tobias said. "Tamoxifen therapy
reduces this risk by nearly a half. To find a treatment that
cuts this risk in half again is truly remarkable -- and welcome
news for the millions of postmenopausal women diagnosed with
early breast cancer every year."
Source:
Breast Cancer
Week of March 24, 2002
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