Groups at high risk of breast cancer take preventive anti-cancer drug Anastrozole, reducing the risk by half

Groups at high risk of breast cancer take preventive anti-cancer drug Anastrozole to reduce risk by half

The British government recently authorized a drug originally used to treat breast cancer (Anastrozole, Note) to be used for the “prevention” of breast cancer. Clinical trials have shown that this drug can reduce the risk of cancer by half, and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) hopes to increase women’s awareness of breast cancer prevention.

The MHRA’s decision was based on the results of The Lancet clinical trial (codenamed IBIS-II). Postmenopausal women who are at high risk for breast cancer can reduce their risk of breast cancer by 49% if they take prophylactic Anastrozole for five years. Anastrozole is more effective in preventing breast cancer than Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, and has fewer side effects.

Anastrozole is a treatment drug for postmenopausal breast cancer patients. It can block the production of estrogen by the adrenal glands, muscles, liver and other organs and tissues, and slow down the growth of breast cancer cells. When used as a preventive medication, only one tablet is taken per day. Professor Jack Cuzick, director of the Cancer Prevention Unit at Queen Mary, University of London, suggests that women at moderate to high risk should carefully consider this preventive measure.

Not all women at risk of breast cancer can take Anastrozole because they need to weigh the pros and cons of taking the drug. Although there is a lot of data to support the safety of the drug, it does have side effects, such as making menopausal symptoms (hot flashes or vaginal dryness) more severe, joint stiffness and pain, and reduced bone density, so it is not suitable for women with osteoporosis. It is also challenging to identify which women are in the high-risk group for breast cancer, as many factors may affect the risk of breast cancer. A possible solution is to use genetic testing to identify women with high-risk gene mutations for breast cancer, so they can benefit from preventive Anastrozole.

Whether to expand the applicable ethnic groups in the future is another issue worthy of study. Breast cancer prevention expert Dr. Sacha Howell said developing a risk assessment system that takes into account not only family history but also personal lifestyle and other risk factors, as well as mammography and genetic testing, has the opportunity to expand the benefits of prevention. People who take Anastrozole for sex.