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SAN ANTONIO – Anti-estrogens as therapy for breast cancer may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer, according to study results presented at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held here Dec. 9-13, 2009.
"We found a reduction in lung cancer mortality among women treated with anti-estrogens for breast cancer. This work builds on previous studies that had suggested estrogens have a role in lung cancer development and progression," said Elisabetta Rapiti, M.D., M.P.H., medical researcher with the Geneva Cancer Registry, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Rapiti and colleagues evaluated whether anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer patients reduced their risk of subsequently developing and/or dying from lung cancer.
The study included 6,715 women living in the Geneva canton of Switzerland who were diagnosed with breast cancer, between 1980 and 2003. Forty-six percent of the women received anti-estrogen therapy, primarily tamoxifen.
By the end of the study period, 40 cases of lung cancer developed. There was no difference in the incidence of lung cancer among women with or without anti-estrogens compared with the general population. However, the risk of dying from lung cancer was significantly lower among women who received anti-estrogen therapy.
"Our results are particularly relevant to the research agenda exploring endocrine treatment(s) for lung cancer," said Rapiti. "If prospective studies confirm our results and find that anti-estrogen agents improve lung cancer outcomes, this could have substantial implications for clinical practice."
Phase II clinical trials are currently underway in a number of centers to evaluate the use of anti-hormone therapy as an adjunct to traditional chemotherapyterm for lung cancer, according to Rapiti.
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High-dose Tamoxifen (anti-estrogen) Therapy
However, frequentist scientists feel anecdotal evidence isn't enough. They are from Missouri, show me a randomized study with a large enough population that clearly shows the survival advantage.
Iressa has the ability to eliminate cross-talk (between human chromosome ends and the protein complexes central to the stability of the entire human genome, a 'chat' that contributes to cancer development) and restore tamoxifen's antitumor effects are tested and analysed in cell culture labs.
Previous clincial experience with Iressa or Tarceva combined with Navelbine and high-dose tamoxifen has been associated with thrombocytopenia, hence Navelbine is administered on a 2 week schedule rather than weekly.
Navelbine is often potentiated by high-dose tamoxifen on in vitro testing. Tamoxifen at concentrations of 2.5 micromolar or greater significantly inhibits the P-glycoprotein multidrug resistant membrane pump, as well as inhibiting protein kinase C.
In most patients, this level can be achieved starting the day before, the day of, and the day after chemotherapy. It is usuall well tolerated, though some patients have GI side effects, and some have headaches which often respond well to Imitrex or similar anti-migraine medications.
Source: Cell Function Analysis