Prevention of breast cancer using selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
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Correspondence: Trevor J Powles hdummer@parkside-hospital.co.uk
Parkside Oncology Centre, Parkside, Wimbledon, London SW19 5NB, UK
Breast Cancer Research 2006, 8:111 doi:10.1186/bcr1601
Published: 16 October 2006Abstract
Placebo controlled trials in over 25,000 women showed that tamoxifen reduced breast cancer risk by about 40% and osteoporotic fracture risk by about 32%. Similarly placebo controlled trials in nearly 18,000 women showed that raloxifene reduced breast cancer risk by 44–72% and osteoporotic fractures risk by 30–50%. A direct comparison of tamoxifen with raloxifene showed similar risk reduction for breast cancer and osteoporotic fractures with less toxicity for raloxifene.