Tamoxifen heralded in breast cancer research

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

Medical officials at the Ozarks Regional Community Clinical Oncology Program are excited about the results of the recent cancer prevention study on the drug Tamoxifen, according to Rosemary Talbott, LPN, data manager for the program.

The five-year study, testing more than 13,000 women from the United States and Canada, produced favorable results among the women tested. Women with high risk of breast cancer may soon be able to use the drug for prevention, as well as a cure.

The medical community has long been aware of the benefits of Tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer. Doctors have been using it for about 20 years. But only in recent years have researchers looked into the possibility of using the drug for prevention, Talbott said.

Of the 13,000 women tested nationally in the program, 58 women were from the Ozarks region, including southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. CCOP divided the Ozarks-region women randomly into two groups. Thirty-one of the participants took a placebo, while the other 27 took Tamoxifen, according to Talbott.

During the five-year trial period, none of the regional participants developed breast cancer.

"We're very proud of the results," Talbott said.

CCOP was founded 11 years ago with the help of Dr. Robert Carolla and Dr. J. Wendall Goodwin. A grant from the National Cancer Institute, subsidized equally by St. John's Regional Hospital and Cox Health Systems, enabled CCOP to carry on the lengthy experiment.

Women participating in the program will be monitored for at least another two years as a follow-up to the prevention treatment.

The participants were selected from a high-risk group of women who were in the pre-menopausal or menopausal stage of life or who had a family history of breast cancer.

One of the good things about the drug is that it can be taken orally, and only intermittent doctor visits are necessary to monitor the patient's progress, Talbott said.

On the down side, the drug is not without side effects, and it has been associated with endometrium cancer and possibly blood clots.

It will be up to the patient and her physician what treatment will be more suitable, according to Talbott. The drug Reloxifene is one substitute for Tamoxifen if the patient suffers any adverse effects.

The studies show that Tamoxifen can cut the cancer rates by half in women who are considered high risk for getting the disease.

A study comparing Tamoxifen to Reloxifene is expected to be launched this coming fall.

Women are already inquiring about the new program, according to Talbott.