May 25, 1999
Two-hundred Utah women will take part in one of the largest breast cancer prevention studies ever!
The Huntsman Cancer Institute will help recruit volunteers here in Utah.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates explains.
The Utah trial will be part of a large national study by 400 medical centers, involving 2,200 women.
This time, physicians will test a drug originally designed for osteopororis.
It's called Raloxifene and these new clinical trials will compare it with an older drug called Tamoxifen.
The use of Tamoxifen was expanded last year to be used as a PREVENTIVE breast cancer drug in high risk women. But it has potential life-threatening side effects, including stroke, and blood clots in large veins and in the lungs.
The drug has also been connected with some cases of first stage endometrial cancer.
Raloxifene though has few side effects - none life threatening - IF given to postmenopausal women.
John Ward, M.D./U of U Huntsman Cancer Institute: "AND IN THE TRIALS WHERE RALOXIFENE WAS GIVEN TO WOMEN TO PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS THERE APPEARED TO BE A DECREASE IN NEW BREAST CANCER IN THOSE WOMEN AS WELL."
If true, will it work as well as Tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer?
Clinicians will now compare the two drugs in 2,200 women over the next five years.
The Huntsman group in Utah will draw its pool from a wide area.
"THE HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH IS REALLY THE ONLY CENTER BETWEEN GREAT FALLS MONTANA AND ARIZONA AND BETWEEN RENO AND DENVER."))
Patsy Mercer in Bountiful will be among the first in Utah to participate in the clinical trials.
PATSY MERCER: "MY MOTHER SUFFERED BREAST CANCER. MY SISTER HAS ALSO HAD BREAST CANCER. I HAVE HAD TWO AUNTS ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE WHO HAVE DIED OF BREAST CANCER."
There were two cousins - and on her father's side a grandmother and two other cousins.
While she doesn't have breast cancer now, Patsy's genetic risk is HIGH.
Postmenopausal high risk women who are interested in the study should call the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.
