NSAIDS
Appear to Reduce the Risk of Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
According to a recent article published in the Journal of
the American Medical Association, regular use of aspirin and
other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents appears to be
associated with a decreased incidence of hormone-positive
breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in
women in the United States. Approximately 250,000 women are
diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 40,000 succumb
to the disease annually. Researchers continue to evaluate
ways in which to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer,
through environmental factors and/or screening efforts. Data
has implicated exercise, diet, age, breastfeeding history,
hormone replacement therapy and menstruation history to be
associated with breast cancer.
Hormone-positive breast cancer refers to a common type of
breast cancer that is stimulated to grow from exposure to
the naturally occurring female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone.
Estrogen and progesterone are found circulating in the blood,
and researchers have speculated that higher levels of the
hormones, particularly estrogen, may be associated with an
increased risk with developing hormone-positive breast cancer.
Clinical studies are underway to evaluate the prevention of
breast cancer with the use of agents that reduce the levels
of estrogen available to cancer cells.
With results from studies implicating regular use of aspirin
and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS)
with a reduced risk of cancers such as gastric, esophageal
and colon cancers, researchers from several New York medical
centers conducted a study to evaluate an association between
regular aspirin or NSDAID use and the incidence of breast
cancer in nearly 3,000 women. Approximately 1,400 women had
been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1,400 had not been
diagnosed with breast cancer. The results from the study indicated
that regular use of aspirin and NSAIDS resulted in a 26% reduction
in hormone-positive breast cancer, with more frequent users
(greater than 7 tablet per week) experiencing the greatest
reduction. The effect of NSAID use was strongest in the period
within 2 to 5 years of diagnosis. There was no effect on regular
NSAID use and the rate of hormone-negative breast cancer.
The researchers speculate that the mechanism of action of
NSAIDS and its effect on prostaglandin synthesis have an indirect
effect on estrogen production in the body.
The researchers concluded that regular use of NSAIDS appears
to be associated with a decreased risk of developing hormone-positive
breast cancer. However, all medications, even over the counter
NSAIDS carry their own risks, particularly when used on a
regular or frequent basis. Therefore, it is important that
patients speak with their physician about their individual
risks and benefits of using NSAIDS.
Reference: Terry MB, Gammon MD, Zhang FF, et al. Association
of Frequency and Duration of Aspirn Use and Hormone Receptor
Status With Breast Cancer Risk. Journal of the American Medical
Association. 2004;291:2433-2440.
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