Breast Density: A Marker of Tamoxifen's Preventive Benefit?

Tamoxifen-associated reductions in mammographic breast density predicted breast cancer risk reduction.

Adherence is a long-recognized problem with any long-term oral therapy — and breast cancer prevention with tamoxifen for ≥5 years represents a perfect example of the challenge faced by clinicians when trying to convince patients about the importance of prolonged therapy. What if we could identify patients most likely to benefit from such therapy?

In a case-control study nested within the first International Breast Cancer Intervention Study of tamoxifen for breast cancer risk reduction involving >7000 high-risk women, investigators evaluated whether visually assessed mammographic breast density at baseline and at follow-up 12 to 18 months after study entry could predict which patients would be most likely to experience reductions in risk for …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)