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Primary, secondary prevention fronts for breast cancer
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Great news on the primary and secondary prevention fronts for breast cancer, recently. From the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, oral bisphosphonates reduced the risk for invasive breast cancer. The researchers presented data from the prospective Women's Health Initiative, where the most commonly prescribed oral bisphosphonate was alendronate (Fosamax, Merck). Among women assigned bisphononate, the rates for invasive breast cancer were about 30% lower.
Interestingly, the rates for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) were increased. The researchers were not able to explain this apparent discrepency. This study does support the earlier finding of lower rates for invasive breast cancer with zolendronic acid (Zometa, Novartis) as well.
From a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, aspirin usage reduced breast cancer related deaths among women in the Nurses Health Study diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer. Most impressive was the size of the effect, with a RR of 0.29-0.36 for women assigned aspirin from at least two days per week to daily. The effect was weaker if they only took aspirin once per week. I also found it very encouraging that this effect was seen regardless of stage, estrogen receptor status, menopause status or body mass index. For me, this is enough to consider aspirin counseling as part of good survivorship planning for early stage breast cancer patients.