The Cancer Stopper II

Dateline: 04/09/98

In The Cancer Stopper, we discussed inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a potentially potent weapon in the fight against cancer. A sugar phosphate, IP6 has been found to be effective against certain types of liver cancer in mice. On the heels of the news about IP6 come the startling results of the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) announced this week. Tamoxifen, when taken by high risk participants, was shown to cut risk by almost 50 percent.

Tamoxifen, previously used to treat women with cancer, was tested to see if it could reduce the risk in women who were deemed high risk. The participants were divided into groups, some receiving tamoxifen and others receiving a placebo. Due to the results, the trial was ended early so that other high risk participants in the placebo group could possibly start taking tamoxifen.

The drug is not without risk. The women in the study who took tamoxifen also showed a higher incidence of endometrial cancer, pulmonary embolisms, and vein thrombosis. The authors of the study advised women to consult with their physicians before considering tamoxifen.

Due to these associated risks, women must carefully consider their options. Even for a person with a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer, tamoxifen therapy may not be the best course of treatment. The authors suggest that the higher the risk of developing breast cancer, the more feasible tamoxifen therapy becomes. Risk is determined by several factors, particularly the incidence of breast cancer in first degree relatives (a mother, a sister, or a child).

The BCPT was also designed to see if tamoxifen could decrease both heart attacks and bone fractures in post menopausal women. Participants in the study were found to have a lower risk of developing bone fractures, but no differences were found regarding heart attack occurrence.

What do you think? Is tamoxifen worth the risk? Where do we draw the line for starting the therapy? Come over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings.

For additional information see:

• Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Shows Major Benefit, Some Risk
  
• The original news release concerning the study.
• The Cancer Stopper III
  
• Two promising new anticancer drugs were recently introduced.