New drug for breast cancer screening

Physicians of the Berlin Charité are presenting new medicines for the prevention of breast cancer

26/06/2011

Millions of women worldwide suffer from breast cancer every year. Breast cancer accounts for around 25 percent of all cancers and is by far the most common type of cancer detected in women. According to the German Cancer Aid alone, about 17,000 women die of breast cancer each year in Germany alone. Physicians of the Berlin Charité have presented a tablet, which is supposed to have a preventative effect against breast cancer.

The new breast cancer prevention product was studied by Canadian scientists as part of a comprehensive study, the results of which were presented at a cancer congress in Chicago, reported Professor Jalid Sehouli, chief physician of gynecology at the Berlin Charité „World Online“. The so-called aromatase inhibitors block the production of the enzyme aromatase, which can significantly reduce the secretion of estrogens in fat and muscle tissue. Since estrogens are essential for the growth of cancer cells, tumors are deprived of the basis for growth by lowering estrogen levels, reports Sehouli and colleagues. Although physicians have also used this effect in patients with breast cancer in the past, preventive use in high-risk groups has not yet been investigated. For the first time, they have taken a closer look at Canadian researchers as part of a five-year study with around 4,500 subjects. The result: Breast cancer risk could be reduced by around 65 percent by administering the aromatase inhibitor.

Aromatase inhibitors already successfully used in cancer therapy
In cancer therapy, aromatase inhibitors have been used for years to improve the chances of recovery in existing breast cancers and to avoid the formation of new metastases after surgery. The administration of the aromatase inhibitors blocks the production of the enzyme responsible for the estrogen release, aromatase, and thus lowers the estrogen concentration in the organism. Since estrogen is the prerequisite for the development of tumors, the risk of breast cancer could be significantly reduced with the help of aromatase inhibitors, said the experts of the Berlin Charité. Preventive administration to certain risk groups has now been investigated by the scientists of the Canadian Cancer Society. Among the so-called high-risk patients, according to Professor Jalid Sehouli „generally women over 60, women who have their first menstruation early and who are late on into menopause, women without children or those who are overweight and those in whose family breast cancer has already occurred“. Beyond that, too „Women with mastopathy, a change in mammary tissue "exposed to increased breast cancer risk. Overall, according to the expert „A good 50 percent of women over the age of 60 experience at least one of these risks“ In particular, the long-term influence of estrogen promotes the growth of tumor cells. However, the Canadian study with more than 4,500 participants has now shown that with the help of aromatase inhibitors, the risk of breast cancer can be significantly reduced - with tolerable side effects. After just three years of study, the subjects treated with the aromatase inhibitor were 65 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than the control group, report the experts at the Berlin Charité on presentation of the new anti-cancer tablets.

Medicines for women at increased breast cancer risk
Therefore, in the case of women with an increased risk of breast cancer, a preventive administration of the aromatase inhibitors could also make sense, explained Professor Jalid Sehouli and colleagues. Although cancer screening continues to be the best way to prevent serious cancers, with early diagnosis, the chances of successful treatment increase significantly. However, by further developing the use of aromatase inhibitors, the risk of breast cancer may be significantly reduced in the future, especially among the most at-risk women. However, according to Prof. Jalid Sehouli, further studies are needed to further narrow the circle of women who can really help with the pills. For in general, for example, the administration of aromatase inhibitors after menopause is possible, otherwise the drug could even counterproductive effect and increase the risk of further forms of cancer, reports Prof. Sehouli. In addition, the drug is relatively expensive (200 euros per month), so that a mass administration to high-risk patients without clear benefits would be too expensive, the expert said. In addition, according to Prof. Sehouli, the risk of possible side effects needs to be examined more closely, since to date no long-term consequences are possible. For example, after ten years of control, undetected side effects could occur.

Drug is part of the overall concept for cancer prevention
As part of the overall concept of cancer prevention, the aromatase inhibitors could play a significant role in the future, explained Prof. Sehouli, although he claims to have „the drugs do not propagate at the moment“ would. For the time being, it has to be clarified, „whether they are worth the benefit, there „Breast cancer is also a matter of personal lifestyle“ is, said the expert. Nutrition, physical activity and alcohol and tobacco consumption also have a significant impact on the individual risk of cancer, so that measures such as patient sports programs or nutritional counseling constitute an essential component of cancer prevention, which is not only relatively inexpensive to implement, but also the risk of further diseases ( For example, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) significantly reduced, explained Prof. Sehouli. Whether the aromatase inhibitors can bring additional benefits, must now investigate further studies, so the conclusion of the expert. (Fp)

Also read:
Painful nipples
Breast cancer screening can save breast
Hormones can cause breast cancer
Breast cancer in men
Study: Bitter melon against breast cancer?
Breast cancer: help by beta-blockers?
New diagnostic procedure for breast cancer
Drastic increase in cancers expected
Breast cancer: Prevent costs better precaution?