THURSDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Raloxifene significantly lowers the odds of developing endometrial cancer and is associated with a more favorable histologic type in patients who do develop cancer, according to an article published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Angela DeMichele, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues performed a case-control study examining the cancer risk associated with tamoxifen, raloxifene and non-users of a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), and associated characteristics of endometrial tumors.
In the study, 547 cases were matched to 1,410 controls. Among cases and controls, 3.3 percent and 6.6 percent took raloxifene, respectively; 6.2 percent and 2.4 percent took tamoxifen, respectively. The odds of developing endometrial cancer among raloxifene users was half that of non-SERM users (odds ratio 0.50), while tamoxifen use was associated with three times the odds of developing endometrial cancer compared to raloxifene users (OR, 3.0), the researchers report. Raloxifene use was associated with a more favorable histologic profile with most endometrial tumors being stage 1 and low grade, the report indicates.
"Raloxifene users had significantly lower odds of endometrial cancer compared with both tamoxifen users and SERM non-users, suggesting a role for raloxifene in endometrial cancer prevention and individualization of SERM therapy," the authors write. "Because small differences in risk of endometrial cancer between these agents would have a relatively large impact on the absolute numbers of cases of endometrial cancer that develop, these findings warrant further investigation. If confirmed, this information provides important additional information to aid physicians and patients in individualizing SERM therapy."
The study received support from Johnson & Johnson. One of the study authors reports a relationship with the company.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
