Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women around the world. For decades, doctors have worked to find ways not only to treat the disease but also to prevent it, especially in women who are at higher risk.
One of the most widely used medicines for this purpose is tamoxifen. While tamoxifen has helped many women reduce their risk of breast cancer or prevent the disease from coming back, it is not always easy to take because of its side effects.
Tamoxifen has been used in medical care for more than 40 years. It works by blocking the effects of estrogen, a hormone that can promote the growth of certain types of breast cancer.
For women who have already had breast cancer, tamoxifen can lower the chance that the cancer will return. It is also given to women who are considered at higher risk, even if they have never had cancer before.
However, many women struggle with tamoxifen because of how it makes them feel. Common side effects include hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms similar to menopause.
These effects can be uncomfortable and can interfere with daily life. Because of this, some women stop taking the medication before completing their treatment, which reduces its benefits.
Researchers have been looking for a better option, one that works just as well but causes fewer side effects.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, offers a possible solution. The study looked at a drug called endoxifen, which is actually the most active form of tamoxifen after it is processed by the body.
Instead of giving tamoxifen and relying on the body to convert it into endoxifen, the researchers tested whether taking endoxifen directly could provide a more consistent effect. They also wanted to see if a lower dose could still be effective while causing fewer side effects.
The study included 240 healthy women who had not yet gone through menopause. These women were randomly divided into groups.
Some received a placebo, which is a pill with no active drug, while others received either 1 milligram or 2 milligrams of endoxifen each day for six months. The researchers then measured changes in breast density using mammograms.
Breast density is an important factor because higher density is linked to a greater risk of breast cancer. A reduction in breast density during treatment is often seen as a positive sign that the drug is working.
The results were encouraging. Women who took 1 milligram of endoxifen had a reduction in breast density of about 19 percent, while those taking 2 milligrams saw a reduction of around 26 percent. These results are similar to those seen with the standard 20 milligram dose of tamoxifen, which reduces breast density by about 18.5 percent.
The difference came in the side effects. Women who took the higher 2 milligram dose reported more hot flashes and night sweats.
In contrast, those who took the lower 1 milligram dose experienced side effects similar to those taking the placebo. This suggests that a lower dose of endoxifen may offer a better balance between effectiveness and comfort.
This study is described as a proof-of-concept trial. This means it was designed to show that the drug can produce the expected biological effect. However, it does not prove that endoxifen can actually prevent breast cancer or stop it from returning. Larger and longer studies will be needed to answer those questions.
Overall, the findings are promising. They suggest that it may be possible to use a lower dose of a drug to achieve similar benefits while reducing unwanted side effects. This could make preventive treatment more acceptable and easier to continue for many women.
At the same time, there are still important questions to answer. Researchers need to confirm whether the reduction in breast density truly leads to a lower risk of cancer over time. They also need to study how the drug works in different groups of women and whether it remains safe with long-term use.
In conclusion, this study provides an important step forward. It offers hope that breast cancer prevention treatments can become both effective and easier to tolerate. While more research is needed, the results suggest a future where more women can benefit from preventive care without the burden of difficult side effects.
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Source: Karolinska Institutet.
