ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This observational, prospective, open, non-randomized study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of tibolone for the treatment of climacteric symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 156 women who had been treated for breast cancer and had received tamoxifen for 5 years participated in the study. One month after stopping tamoxifen, 52 women started taking tibolone while the rest served as untreated controls (n = 104). They were followed up (mean duration 61 months) for climacteric symptoms, cancer recurrence rate, breast density, endometrial thickness and adverse events. RESULTS: There was no difference in cancer recurrence rate between the two groups. Breast density was not affected. Tibolone treatment alleviated climacteric symptoms and positively affected sexual problems. Endometrial thickness was not adversely affected by treatment and there was a low incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Tibolone was effective in the treatment of climacteric symptoms and well tolerated in a group of 52 women with a history of breast cancer. The cancer recurrence rate in the tibolone group was comparable to that of untreated controls. It should be noted that the limitations of the study design and the small number of events preclude any definitive conclusions about the effects of tibolone on breast cancer recurrence in general clinical practice. There were no breast-related adverse effects, and overall safety and tolerance were similar to those of the general population of postmenopausal women treated with tibolone.
Subject(s)
Estrogen Receptor Modulators/therapeutic use , Estrogen Replacement Therapy , Norpregnenes/therapeutic use , Postmenopause/drug effects , Adult , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Estrogen Receptor Modulators/adverse effects , Estrogen Receptor Modulators/pharmacology , Estrogen Replacement Therapy/adverse effects , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Mammography , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Norpregnenes/adverse effects , Norpregnenes/pharmacology , Prospective Studies , Tamoxifen/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Patients seeking alternatives to hormone replacement are increasingly using non-prescription phytoestrogen supplements. The potential of these herbal remedies to prevent bone loss, heart disease, menopausal symptoms or breast cancer has been a focus of attention in scientific and lay literature. It is important to understand the effects of phytoestrogens, particularly whether excess exposure can promote hyperplasia or neoplasia of breast tissue. We report the case of a man diagnosed with breast cancer whose history was notable for extensive use of supplemental phytoestrogens and the absence of family history of breast cancer or BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation. In conclusion, breast tissue effects of phytoestrogens remain unclear. The increasing popularity and availability of phytoestrogen dietary supplements necessitates additional research in order to counsel patients regarding their safety and efficacy.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms, Male/etiology , Dietary Supplements/adverse effects , Phytoestrogens/adverse effects , Diet , Humans , Male , Medical History Taking , Middle AgedABSTRACT
AIMS: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in the female population and the involvement of chromosomal alterations is often implicated in the development of cancer. The aim of our study was to assess loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 1 in relation to clinical and pathological parameters. METHODS: Tumours, corresponding normal tissues and peripheral blood samples from 50 women with operable breast cancer, were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 16 polymorphic DNA markers, on both the long and short arm of chromosome 1. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between chromosomal region 1q21-23 and the presence of extensive intraductal component (EIC) and peritumoral angiolymphatic (PALI) invasion, both independent markers of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Allelic loss in region 1q21-23 may be a valuable prognostic biological marker for the detection of local relapse in breast cancer, in combination with other histological and clinical parameters.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics , Loss of Heterozygosity , Alleles , Biomarkers, Tumor , Female , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis , Microsatellite Repeats , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics , Prognosis , Vascular Neoplasms/secondaryABSTRACT
We report a case of a 44-year-old woman with primary angiosarcoma of the left breast. An excisional biopsy was performed initially and the mass was interpreted as angiosarcoma. The pre-operative staging provided no evidence of metastasis. The patient then underwent a left mastectomy with the placement of an expandable prosthesis. For 3 months the prosthesis was progressively expanded to the desired size and it was then replaced with a permanent one. Primary angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare and often misdiagnosed disease. Treatment options are numerous and conflicting. The diagnostic approach and treatment options from the literature are presented and discussed.
